The Bangladeshi journey has been a long one: From poverty-stricken to climate-conscious, we have been a part of a remarkable story spanning all the way from bustling Dhaka to rural villages in the remote corners of our country. We are now at a turning point in our history, faced with an existential crisis in the form of climate change, leading to a comprehensive move across society and country to transform our practices in face of a new future -- a low-carbon future. To this end, the government has employed a diverse set of strategies cutting across the country and its stakeholders.
Investing in renewables, technology, and green initiatives
Promising to cut 89.47 million tons of CO2 by 2030, Bangladesh primarily targets its energy sector, while addressing other sectors like agriculture, forestry, and waste management. This low-emission country has made a remarkable decision to abandon foreign investments worth $12 billion in 10 coal-based power plants, centering climate concerns in overall policy-making.
Bangladesh's government has launched a game-changing re-financing scheme through IDCOL to boost alternative energy generation. From small-scale solar to micro grids, these projects aim to bring energy access to off-grid areas. With a total power generation capacity of 18,768.62MW, including renewables, the country is already making strides in reducing its carbon footprint.
Igniting a solar revolution in Bangladesh
With just 1% of Kaptai dam's water surface dedicated to floating solar, we could harness a staggering 500 MW of solar capacity. But that is not all -- along riverbanks and in the Meghna estuary, untapped land awaits further renewable development. Despite challenges such as land scarcity and high costs for acquiring land, Bangladesh sees opportunities in scaling up solar energy.
Innovative solutions like rooftop solar installations and utilizing agricultural land for solar energy production offer a bright path forward. It is, however, a perfect time to take a detour and replace the diesel-run pumps with solar irrigation pumps.
From waste to wealth
A GIZ study unveiled the potential of using biomass energy on a district scale: 4-5 MW of electricity from waste in Keraniganj alone. With bountiful resources like sugar cane, rice husks, and plentiful animal waste, biomass could represent a new avenue for electricity generation. A game-changer on the horizon is waste-to-energy, offering not only power production but also sustainable waste management.
Since 2008, the pioneering compost plant has been curbing a staggering 89,000 tons of GHG emissions annually by transforming vegetable waste into bio-fertilizer. Now, with the world's first composting plant under the Clean Development Mechanism project is in full swing. Building on this success, ACI Fertilizer is teaming up with the Netherlands to introduce the groundbreaking EcoDigester technology, widely acclaimed in the Netherlands and worldwide, converting organic waste into bio-fertilizers.
Unleashing the power of a bacterium, waste will be transformed into organic fertilizers that supercharge crop fields. Imagine the impact as 25,000 tons of daily urban waste become a valuable resource, slashing GHG emissions at lightning speed. Moreover, drawing inspiration from successes in Jessore, Rajuk plans to introduce barrel-type compost units in Dhaka city. With separate bio-waste and non-bio-waste management at home, this eco-friendly initiative will not only reduce strain on waste plants but also contribute to emission reduction.
It's time for Bangladesh to tap into the excellent energy potential hidden within Municipal Solid Waste. With a moisture content of 68.3%, it holds the potential to supply 100MW of electricity. By harnessing this, Dhaka city alone can eliminate more than one MT of CO2 associated with GHGs by 2030.
Embracing the winds of change
Bangladesh's Investment Plan for Scaling up Renewable Energy Program highlights over 6,000 GWh of annual generation capacity from renewable technologies, including a significant 1,250GWh from wind resources alone. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's vision to achieve 40% renewable electricity by 2041 gains momentum through Bangladesh's first significant 60 MW wind power plant in Cox's Bazar.
Despite negative experiences in previous ventures in Feni and Kutubdia, this time around, there is a renewed commitment to meticulous oversight and sustained interest. In its pilot phase, the plant already injects an average of 20 MW of clean electricity into the national grid daily. Bangladesh's wind power revolution harnesses its natural resources, reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels. Also, they require minimal space, allowing for harmonious coexistence with thriving farming activities
Scaling up wind power
In the crowded expanse of Bangladesh, room for wind farms is no easy feat. However, offshore space offers a promising solution. Lessons from the Netherlands inspire us for successful coexistence with shipping traffic. Thorough analysis of offshore soil conditions ensures strong foundations for potential wind farms. Leveraging off-grid projects on agricultural land offers scalability and economic benefits. Into the bargain, low wind resources and occasional high wind speeds pose challenges, as does the grid connection stability.
However, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory reveals that over 20,000 sq-km of land in Bangladesh experiences wind speeds between 5.75m/s and 7.75m/s. This translates to an astonishing potential of over 30,000MW. Yet, threats loom on the horizon. The absence of policy incentives and adequate budget allocation, coupled with a lack of comprehensive legal and regulatory frameworks, dampen progress. Challenges exist, including accessibility to wind turbines and critical materials. Yet, Japan's success in harnessing winter winds through offshore technology inspires Bangladesh.
Igniting clean cooking
In Bangladesh, emissions from oil and gas operations reached 408 kilotons in 2020, equivalent to a staggering 12.2 million tons of CO2. However, there's hope for carbon abatement in energy supply.
The introduction of tier 1 and tier 2 improved cookstoves has proven remarkable. These efficient models slash concentrations of harmful pollutants like PM10, PM2.5, black carbon, and carbon monoxide by significant margins. To accelerate adoption, a government-sponsored program launched a decade ago, with 2.11 million improved cookstoves installed by IDCOL through partner organizations.
With thermal efficiency surpassing 35%, these stoves consume less fuel and emit fewer emissions. While progress is evident, challenges remain. Despite subsidies and concessional loans, achieving the SDG target of 100% clean cooking by 2030 requires overcoming barriers of access and affordability.
Sustainable transport systems
As the second-largest source of energy-related CO2 emissions in the country, transportation calls for innovative solutions. Across Asia, countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, and India are shifting freight from roads to railways and waterways. In Dhaka, the conversion of the transport fleet to compressed natural gas has already prevented thousands of premature deaths and brought significant economic benefits.
Sustainable transportation encompasses various aspects, including carbon-neutral fuels, electric vehicles, green vehicles, and transportation demand management. Examples like the UK's plan to phase out diesel cars and California's push for EV adoption showcase the transformative power of sustainable transportation in creating a cleaner and more mobile future.
The rise of carbon trading
Since the Kyoto Protocol, carbon has become a valuable traded commodity, driving global emission reduction efforts. Bangladesh aims to unlock the potential of carbon credits. Recent successes in selling carbon credits from Improved Cook Stoves and Solar Home Systems have paved the way for domestic demand and value-added opportunities.
In Bangladesh, visionary brick manufacturers have embraced clean technology, cutting carbon emissions by 65,603 tons and earning Tk3 crore in carbon revenue. Waste Concern, an influential NGO, has also made significant strides in sustainable waste management, reducing 62,200 tons of carbon and securing Tk25.67 lakh. But there's untapped potential waiting to be unleashed. To seize these opportunities, Bangladesh must streamline the carbon credit process and establish a structured framework. Addressing the shortage of trained manpower is crucial, and government intervention can help access lucrative markets like the US and Canada, where higher prices await carbon credit sellers.
From Bangladesh's inspiring climate progress to the challenges faced by developing nations, international fairness requires united efforts. Let's forge a transformative framework that combines low-cost emissions reduction with fair compensation, bridging the gap for those leading the charge.
By rallying countries, including major emitters, around shared principles and allocating emissions within carbon budgets, we unlock the path to progressive outcomes.
Lamiya Sharmeen is a PhD Research Fellow at IWFM, BUET and serves as the Deputy Lead of YPF Environment and Climate Change Policy Team. Zaheer Abbas is the Head of Reform Management for Youth Policy Forum. He is a junior student at the Dual BA program between SciencesPo Paris and Columbia University. This is the sixth part of a series of articles on Politics and Policies of Climate Change, produced by YPF.