Behavioral Interventions to Address Climate Change Induced Salinization in Bangladesh

Climate change has induced progressive salinization of low-elevated coastal zones in many parts of the world. Bangladesh, in particular, is vulnerable to the effects of climate change due to its geographic proximity to the ocean and low-lying topography. Climate change-induced salinization (CCIS) could be a serious threat to public health and productivity in the ​​coastal areas of Bangladesh due to its direct link to hypertension or elevated blood pressure levels. In this project, the researchers propose to conduct a household-level survey in Khulna, Bangladesh, to learn about the community members’ health condition, the current practice of saline water consumption, knowledge of the health hazards of consuming saline water, and willingness to pay for desalinized water. This exploratory research will allow the researchers to learn about the preferences and aspirations of these at-risk populations and, therefore, better understand whether the provision of subsidized desalinized drinking water and behavioral interventions has the potential to help the vulnerable coastal community adapt to the adverse impacts of CCIS.