This study compares household heads’ perceptions of climate change with meteorological trends and explores the measures they believe can mitigate the negative impacts of climate change in the coastal districts of Bangladesh. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were conveniently collected from 164 household heads through semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Daily temperature and rainfall data for the Khulna and Satkhira districts from 1980 to 2015 were obtained from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Variations in temperature and rainfall were analyzed for annual, pre-monsoon, monsoon, post-monsoon, and winter periods, with trends identified using the Mann-Kendall (M-K) test. Binary logistic regression was employed to assess factors influencing individuals’ perceptions of climate change mitigation measures, while qualitative data were analyzed through verbatim analysis of recorded interviews. The analysis indicated significant upward trends in temperature across all seasons, consistent with residents’ observations, while rainfall patterns showed greater variability. Survey results demonstrated strong community awareness, with most respondents emphasizing the need for Bangladesh-specific climate education, recognizing the empowering role of knowledge, and expressing confidence in community-level cooperation. Education and income were identified as significant predictors of climate change perceptions, with higher levels associated with more informed views on mitigation strategies. These findings underscore a strong alignment between local perceptions and scientific data, highlighting the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge with empirical evidence in climate resilience planning. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on climate change adaptation in vulnerable coastal regions and offers valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners dedicated to building resilient communities in the face of environmental challenges.

Design Research (DR) involves generating innovative and effective solutions for practical problems inspired by theory and real-life interventions (Brown 1992; Collins et al. 2004, Easterday et al. 2018). The Urban Ecology and Nature-Based Solutions (UENbS) module under MSc in Urban Climate and Sustainability (MUrCS), which is an International Erasmus Mundus Joint Master of Science Program, provided the students with a unique opportunity for implementing design research as a method to explore new solution models and develop guiding designs for presenting different sustainable options to create green infrastructure pilots in Mukkula shopping center area as an initiative under the PilotGreen project (LAB University of Applied Sciences 2023).

The Southwest coastal region of Bangladesh is located in the Ganges delta’s central portion with the Sundarbans, between the inhabited and the Bay of Bengal. Around 405 rivers pass through the country, out of which 57 rivers are shared with other riparian countries and known as transboundary rivers. The upper riparian countries take their geographical advantage and construct obstacles, divert natural river flow or increase water usage from these sources. Another significant issue across all the riparian countries is that the centralized institutions follow a top–down method in the decision-making on transboundary water issues with almost no community participation. As the main rivers Kholpetua, Kalindi, Madar, Kopotakkho are interlinked with neighboring country India, the backwater flow effect of the Ganges river is one of the main reasons behind the low streamflow in the region. Transboundary river impacts, lack of good governance, salinity intrusion, deltaic sedimentation, and water scarcity issues are the primary reasons behind the water stress in Bangladesh’s coastal region. These impacts are also further exacerbated by climate change impacts. A key finding from the cross-country visit to India showed the involvement of the local community with the local stakeholders through the initiation of Jal Chaupal, which resulted in significant and effective water interventions for the revival of the Ganges river. The learnings from India indicate that a community-based approach to sustainable transboundary water resources management would be an effective and equitable solution to the water stress issue in Bangladesh as well. In this way, the local communities’ actual problems can be identified, and need-based solutions can be implemented. Furthermore, it is also essential to identify the gaps in the national policies to tackle the water stress at downstream regions, which might open an option for cooperation among the riparian countries. This study argues that although relevant policies are in place, there is no proper implementation involving the local community to work out the water issues. Therefore, this study emphasizes good governance and effective policies as critical to a sustainable shift towards integrated water resources management in coastal Bangladesh.

Barisal division, a coastal region of Bangladesh, is one of the most vulnerable zones in terms of climate-induced disasters, where the children, women, and young people are at high risk. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) training programs for children and youth usually aim to change the way of thinking and action, which can make the future generations or the communities more resilient. Trainings can help to improve skills, knowledge, and capacities to manage any disaster event. Considering this fact, the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) of BRAC University facilitated several capacity building training programs on DRR and CCA, which have been conducted in different districts of Barisal division. Nearly 105 children and youth of 3 districts (Barguna, Bhola, and Barisal) of Barisal division have transformed into Disaster Ambassador and helped to enhance the capacities of their communities to deal with climateinduced disasters. This chapter aims to find out the effectiveness of these training programs to build disaster resilient communities through the active participation of children and young people. It finds that the trained children and youths became able to contribute positively through making decisions and developing work plans which were supported by various organizations.

This study presents the trends of channel flow against human interventions and proposes an adaptation plan through a public–private Partnership (PPP) model to overcome the existing deteriorating condition of the Halda River.

Halda, one of the major tributaries of the mountainous river Karnaphuli, is well known as the country’s only natural carp spawning ground. Naturally fertilized eggs of carps collected from Halda River are hatched in mud-made scoops on the river bank for aquaculture purposes. However, the river habitat is under constant threat due to human interventions like loop cutting, pollution from the paper mill and power plant, blocking natural water flow of larger tributaries by introducing sluice gates, embankments and rubber dam over the river at upstream, as well natural causes like siltation, erosion and climate change impacts.