Environmental progress and economic growth: interplay and implications for poverty alleviation in Bangladesh

PurposeBangladesh faces serious challenges from climate change, including the loss of vegetation, environmental damage and rapid economic development. This study looks at how vegetation health, measured by NDVI (a common way to check plant health), is linked to economic growth, represented by GDP, from 2014 to 2023.Design/methodology/approachWe used satellite images from Landsat 8 and economic data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics to explore this relationship. NDVI was calculated using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) Python Environment in Google Colab to assess the vegetation cover. It was later integrated with economic data for statistical analysis using Pearson correlation to assess the link between NDVI and GDP growth fluctuations from 2014 to 2023.FindingsOur findings show four development patterns: sustainable, growth-focused, environmentally driven and harmful. In some places, like Dhaka and Chattogram, there is a balance between economic growth and environmental health. However, despite economic growth in areas like Mymensingh, we found significant vegetation loss. The analysis shows a weak negative connection between GDP growth and vegetation health, suggesting rapid economic development can harm the environment.Originality/valueThis research highlights the complex relationship between NDVI values and economic growth rates in Bangladesh, emphasizing the crucial role of ecological health in shaping effective poverty alleviation policies, where few studies on Bangladesh explored how poverty programs influence vegetation health or whether economic gains align with environmental resilience.