Background

Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with some 162 million people living in an area two thirds the size of the United Kingdom or about the size of New York State.  Less than one third of its population live in cities while the majority live in rural areas relying on a predominantly subsistence lifestyle.  GDP per capita is around US$1,700 (ppp) per annum compared with a world average of US$10,500.  Less than half the population have access to electricity.

	Bangladesh	UK
Population	162m	63m
GDP/Capita	$1700	$35,100
Economic Growth	6%	1.6%
Access to electricity	47%	100%
Source: Ministry of Finance 2010, CIA Factbook 2010, 2011

Bangladesh is a country of enormous potential.  It has the eighth largest work force in the world and is included in the “Next Eleven” countries that, after the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), were identified by Goldman Sachs as having the potential to become the world’s largest economies in the 21st century.  It has enjoyed more than 6% economic growth in real terms over the last five years as well as substantial improvements in measures of human development.  For example, between 1980 and 2006 life expectancy has improved from 48 years to 63 years and literacy rates have improved from 29% to 53%.

Bangladesh is one of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world with a significant proportion of the population living in remote or ecologically fragile areas such as river islands or cyclone prone coastal areas.  Two thirds of the country is less than five metres above sea level making it vulnerable to the predicted effects of climate change. 

Although Bangladesh is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, it is not itself a significant emitter of carbon dioxide.  Per capita carbon dioxide emissions (0.3t/capita) are substantially below other countries in the region (Pakistan 0.9t/capita, India 1.4t/capita, China 4.9t/capita) which themselves are substantially less than emissions from developed countries (UK 8.9t/capita, USA 18.9t/capita).  Even with the addition of the 4,000MW of electricity capacity which Phulbari coal could support, Bangladesh would still be one of the lowest emitters of carbon dioxide in the world, substantially less per capita than its neighbouring countries.