A documentary about climate change and its impact on Bangladesh by Hazuan Hashim & Phil Maxwell

This film will examine climate change from the perspective of those who are already having to deal with its effects. Communities in Bangladesh are suffering increased and more severe flooding which leads to loss of homes, crops and income. The narrative of the film will be harvested from interviews with fisherman, children, farmers, students and scientists from Bangladesh.

Drowning by Carbon will destroy the myth that climate change is something that will happen in the future and will illustrate the importance of international coordinated action to deal with the problem.

With a focus on Bangladesh the film will also use footage from around the world to show how high carbon based economies impact on poorer countries. Renewable energy and sustainable life styles will be examined as an alternative to continuous economic growth and rampant consumerism.

Background: Injustice & climate change
With one of the lowest per capita levels of energy consumption in the world, Bangladesh is a major point of reference for the injustice of climate change. With only 15 percent of the world population, rich countries account for nearly half of global carbon dioxide emissions, with the United States leaving a carbon footprint that is nearly 70 times higher than in Bangladesh.

If climate change proves to be the force that shapes the 21st century, then Bangladesh offers an early vision of our future. Its land is crossed with waterways, defensive dykes and structures; roads and houses are constructed above ground level; early warning systems and emergency shelters have already protected tens of thousands of lives from Cyclones.

Over 40 million people in Bangladesh live below the poverty line. Most of these families do not own land, but live and farm in flood-prone areas. They face yearly natural disasters, limited employment, low wages, low education, a polluted environment and poor access to health services.

Children's malnutrition is widespread – some 50 percent of children under age 5 are malnourished. The contrast between living in an urban environment and a rural one is stark. It is countries like Bangladesh that will be worst affected by climate change that may cause a large-scale reversal in human development. The latest UN Human Development Report fears climate change will hit the poorest countries the most by breaking down agricultural systems, worsening water scarcity, increasing risks of diseases and triggering mass displacement due to recurring floods, and storms.

The people of Bangladesh are well versed in dealing with adversity and show a great determination for survival as well as an awareness of their environment and how it is changing. We will hear from children who see the value in planting trees, students who call on industrialised countries to reduce carbon emissions and fishermen who want to protect fish stocks. What emerges is a portrait of a people who are acutely aware of the changing environment and the international action required to deal with climate change.

This film will examine the impact of climate change on Bangladesh but also describe how many traditional farming and waste management practices point a way to a more sustainable future. The film asks what lessons can be learnt for people in the UK when it comes to living a more sustainable life style and campaigning to hold governments accountable and demand urgent and ambitious action to safeguard the planet for future generations.