By 2050, about 17 percent of Bangladesh will be submerged as a result of rising sea levels, depriving 20 million people of their homes. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet made the remarks at the 48th session of the Human Rights Council on Tuesday, citing the report.
She said the Maldives was already having a devastating effect, with more than 80% of the land being less than one meter above sea level, which would only get worse as sea levels rose.
Also, in most parts of Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, the forecast indicates that by 2050, areas with a daily high tide could flood more than 48 million people, with an annual average flood which will affect the houses of more than 79 million people.
Displacement due to environmental disasters is a immensely significant event in Asia, with the Internal Displacement Observatory reporting that in 2019 China, Bangladesh, India and the Philippines saw more disasters than any other country – 70% of the global total.
Last month’s intergovernmental panel on climate change presented a worrying forecast, especially for South Asia.
