Dhaka faces high risk

The capital of Bangladesh among the rapidly growing megacities in Asia and Africa faces the highest risks from rising sea levels, floods and other climate change impacts in the upcoming years, a global survey says.
The study, aimed at guiding city planners and investors, by risk analysis and mapping firm Maplecroft comes as the United Nations says the world's population will hit seven billion next week and as huge floods inundate areas of Thailand.
“Dhaka is the megacity most at risk with an extreme ranking,” the research organisation said. Other megacities at extreme or high risk include Manila, Kolkata, Jakarta, Kinshasa, Lagos, Delhi and Guangzhou.
"Population growth in these cities combines with poor government effectiveness, corruption, poverty and other socio-economic factors to increase the risks to residents and business," said Maplecroft in the report, released on Wednesday.
The survey ranks the top-20 fastest-growing cities by 2020 in terms of risk, with the study based on a series of indices. The survey maps the world in 25-square-km segments according to vulnerability, making regional assessments easier.
Miami still ranked at a high risk as does Singapore, while New York and Sydney were medium and London was a low risk. Bangkok ranked extreme, and the Thai government has created a $10.6 billion budget to rebuild after the current floods subside.
It also ranks nearly 200 nations in terms of vulnerability to climate change over the medium term. Haiti is the country most at risk from climate change, while Iceland is the least vulnerable. Thailand is ranked 37th.
Globally, many other cities were also vulnerable to climate change, Maplecroft said, but better governance, greater wealth and better policies meant they were more able to adapt.
Bangladesh ranked fifth most vulnerable country to climate change and hunger in an ActionAid research report published on October 10.
In the World Risk Index 2011, jointly conducted by United Nations University (UNU), Germany and the Institute of Environment and Human Security, published in September, Bangladesh ranked sixth among countries that are most vulnerable to natural disasters, while second among the Asian countries.
Moreover, in the Global Assessment Report of the UNDP, revealed earlier this year, Bangladesh was found to be one of the most vulnerable countries in the world.