This policy brief examines how rising urban heat stress in Bangladesh is linked to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from key sectors, especially agriculture and industry. The objective is to understand the long-run relationship between sectoral emissions and heat stress, and to recommend solutions for building climate-resilient and sustainable cities in Bangladesh.
The study uses time-series data from 1990–2020 and employs econometric methodologies such as the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) unit root test, Johansen cointegration test, and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) estimation test to assess how emissions from agriculture, manufacturing, transport, and industrial processes influence the number of extreme heat days.
The analysis reveals a long-run association between agricultural emissions and rising heat stress, while emissions from industrial processes show modest positive effects. Projections suggest that Bangladesh is going to experience extremely hot days in coming days, with serious implications for health, productivity and urban welfare.
The policy brief recommends promoting climate-smart agriculture, improving industrial efficiency and transport systems, investing in urban greening and heat-sensitive building design, and strengthening public health and early warning systems. It argues that managing heat stress is central to both climate action and sustainable urban development in Bangladesh.
Authors: Fahmida Khatun, Foqoruddin Al Kabir and Md. Takrim Hossain
Publication Period: November 2025
