Double Exposure Impacts in Urban Area (A Case Study on Dhaka City)

Abstract

The principal objective of this paper is to identify the double exposure impact in Dhaka city. Double exposure is the simultaneous impact of global climate change and economic globalization. Double exposure refers to the negative impacts of both global changes. A particular region or sector or group of people can be impacted for climate change and globalization. From this base, double exposure has impacts in Dhaka city. For these negative impacts, Dhaka city is becoming vulnerable. Globalization has given the opportunity to earn, but for rapid unplanned urbanization, rural-urban migration, population growth and lack of utility services making city dwellers vulnerable. In addition, global climate change has direct impact on Dhaka city. For this both impact, city living standard is becoming low or poor. That is why; city dwellers are suffering for livelihoods loss and different diseases. Also city life is becoming more vulnerable for the lack of utility services and demand. In addition, double exposure introduced winner and loser. A loser for the impacts of climate change in rural Bangladesh becomes the partial winner for globalization in Dhaka city. Partial winners are winners just in the sense of cash income but from other perspective; these partial winners might be more loser than they were before in rural area. Considering both impacts of climate change and globalization, Dhaka city may be in a critical situation. Only an advanced double exposure impact measurement can generate the true intensity of Dhaka city’s vulnerability.