Living in a low-lying and densely populated country on the front line of climate change, Bangladeshis are taking a lead in adapting to rising temperatures and campaigning to limit climate change. Global warming will worsen this country's existing environmental problems – causing a rise in sea level, more flooding and stronger, more damaging cyclones.

Bangladeshis know what is coming, and how to respond, because they are already effectively combating environmental and social challenges. Cyclone shelters and warning systems have cut the fatality rate dramatically; new varieties of rice have raised nutrition levels; women's education has slowed population growth; land is being raised to respond to sea level rise. Bangladeshis will keep their heads above water, but at huge costs. Will the industrialised countries curb their greenhouse gas emissions and pay for the damage they have already done?

Environment & Urbanisation journal

Manoj Roy is a lecturer in sustainability at Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, UK.

Joseph Hanlon is a visiting senior fellow at the London School of Economics and a visiting senior research fellow at the Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.

David Hulme is a professor of development studies and executive director of the Global Development Institute, University of Manchester, UK.