Yesterday, Khodeza Rume, Oxfam Programme Manager from Bangladesh, visited BedZed, the UK’s largest carbon-neutral housing development, to warn of increased risks of natural disasters and see how people in the South East are getting involved in the fight against climate change. Climate change is already having a real effect on the people of Bangladesh. The country's low-lying landscape means that it’s always been susceptible to floods, and people have had to adapt to cope with the effects. But the weather of recent years has come as a shock to them, and is threatening security, livelihoods and even lives.

Khodeza Rume, as part of Oxfam’s team in Bangladesh, works with communities to ensure that they are prepared to cope and live with the increasing floods while at the same time empowering them to make a better living. During her visit to the UK she will be visiting politicians, local councils, local authority green champions and Oxfam supporters in Brighton, Lambeth, Southwark and throughout London and the South East. Her aim is to share experiences of the human impact of climate change in Bangladesh.

Khodeza Rume says: “As a programme officer in Bangladesh, I help prepare people for the effects of climate change so I’m delighted to come and see what BedZed has done to help fight it. It’s really inspiring to know that people in the UK care about making a difference.“

The multi award winning Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED) is the UK's largest eco-village, the first of its kind in this country. It was designed to minimize its ecological impact both in construction and operation and to help residents live within their fair share of the world’s resources; uses innovative approaches to energy conservation and environmental sustainability, for example only using energy from renewable sources to meet the energy needs of the development.

Sue Riddlestone, Executive Director of Bioregional, the company that built Bedzed said: "We are delighted that Khodeza has come to visit. It is encouraging to meet someone who works to assist and improve conditions in Bangladesh where the effects of climate change are being felt so harshly. The BedZED community shows that it is possible to drastically reduce the environmental impact of our homes and lifestyles while still maintaining a high quality of living. For example carbon emissions from the buildings have been reduced by 72% compared to the local average. We can all do our bit to reduce our carbon emissions.”

Homes in the UK contribute to around 30% of our country’s CO2 emissions. The UK is the 8th biggest producer of CO2 globally and we need to get a grip on our energy use, very quickly, in every sector. “If everyone in the world lived like we do in the UK we'd need three planets to live on - this is clearly unsustainable and has knock on effects for countries like Bangladesh who bear the brunt of our actions" said Sue Riddlestone.

ABOUT OXFAM IN BANGLADESH

Oxfam has been working in Bangladesh since 1971 when they assisted refugees from the War of Independence. Oxfam’s River Basin Programme, covering 40,000 households in 350 villages, was launched in Bangladesh in 1999 and prepares people to live with floods. It ensures that their lives, and their ability to earn a living are disrupted as little as possible.

Disasters caused by climate change are increasing as temperatures climb and rainfall intensifies. But extreme weather need not bring disasters; it is poverty and powerlessness that make people vulnerable. Oxfam has launched a major campaign calling on world leaders to stop climate change in its tracks. Rich countries must now reduce greenhouse emissions without delay and help poor nations cope with the damaging effects of climate change.