I still have vivid memories of that day; it triggered a sense of action, an urge so strong that I felt the jolt running down my spine. My morning unravelled in its usual course, and while I was making my way to the office, I was scrolling through my phone and bumped into a report. It stated that Bangladesh is expected to lose around 11% of its land by 2050 due to a projected 50cm rise in sea levels.
I shrugged at the thought of my encounters with waterlogged roads during my commute to work due to excessive rainfall. I gazed at the rapidly changing unplanned landscape as my mind wandered with thought-provoking questions. I knew the repercussions were alarming: Erratic weather patterns, a sustained rise in temperatures, extreme climatic events such as flash floods, and increasing sea levels.
We might be at the beginning of mass extinction. It was time to wake up, address the elephant in the room from right there, and draw the line. Otherwise, the “end of the story” will aptly characterize our planet. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) 2020 Annual Climate Report, the world temperature has been rising with an average increase of 0.13 degrees Fahrenheit (0.08 degrees Celsius) in the land and ocean per decade since 1880.
The rate has doubled in the last few decades. If yearly emissions continue to rise at the same speed, the world will be around 10.2 degrees warmer by this century. Bangladesh's average annual temperatures are expected to increase by 1.0C to 1.5C by 2050, even if preventive measures are taken. Now imagine how we will feel as citizens when we reach 2030 or even 2025?
This is just the tip of the iceberg.
If this information has not left you astonished already, consider these optics as well. Bangladesh is the seventh in the world among countries most vulnerable to climate change, as per the Global Climate Risk Index (CRI). Bangladesh has suffered economic losses worth $3.72 billion from 2000 to 2019 due to the adverse effects of climate change. Estimation says that this financial loss will rise to between $290bn and $580bn a year by 2030 in developing nations. By the time we reach 2050, one in every seven people in Bangladesh will be displaced owing to the climate crisis.
Also Read
Are you feeling the blow yet? If you are, then it’s time for you, me and all other citizens of the country to tug out of the inertia and go over the things we are doing, reconsider the apathy we are so sucked into, and map out some tangible actions to save our mother nature. If we do the right things now, there is still a window of hope.
First, we need our own realization of the situation and make the masses aware of the catastrophic impacts of climate change so that we, as citizens, can go ahead with a common purpose. Our small initiatives will have a snowball effect, which will inspire others to do their bit. Combatting this will require something from every one of us. Just a few smart choices and a shift toward more environment-friendly options can go a long way in fighting the harmful impacts of climate change.
Organizations can also play instrumental roles in warding off the impacts of climate change just by inspiring their workforce to opt for environment-friendly choices. Moreover, innovations must be sought to bring about positive changes. From my own experience, I can say that Grameenphone has recently introduced eSIM, which is a greener technology and will help cut down on environmental waste.
We need an inclusive system and framework to combat climate change. For that, policies are necessary at the government and organizational levels. Many organizations have adopted policies to significantly reduce carbon emissions caused by their operations. The government must also ensure a renewed focus on ways to lure in more climate funding in the national policy so that we can strive to build climate-resilient infrastructure. Also, more knowledge-sharing sessions involving the stakeholders must be organized so that the denizens can be made aware of the blowbacks of our indifference and inspired to be a part of this noble initiative to save the earth.
The reality is that we all have a role to play in this. This is no more a problem of the states or economies; instead, every citizen is responsible for the changes in our climate. And you will not believe how our minute eco-friendly acts will contribute to the bigger picture. Starting small like I did and building up helps once you get in swing. I have mastered the art of not taking prints out unless urgent, reigning in my power use, buying energy-efficient products which are also cost-friendly, and have reduced my use of plastic.
While turning the tap off after use is basic, “repair and reuse” has also been my mantra lately and taking up green hobbies like adding dashes of green to your office and home helps too. But above all, being vocal and helping spread the word is key. We should all believe in the purpose, be accountable for our actions, and own the repercussions because our existence will eventually be at stake.
It is our individual responsibility, and each of us, by doing our part, will be a part of the revolution and carve our path towards a more green and sustainable tomorrow. And we all must rise to the occasion and be climate champions. Even if you don’t feel it for yourself, think about the world our next generation and our children will inhabit. As part of civilization, our moral responsibility is to leave behind a livable planet for our posterity. Unless we act now and do our bit, however small it is, we will never be able to defeat this Frankenstein called Climate Crisis.
It is now or never.
Syed Tanvir Husain is Chief Human Resources Officer, Grameenphone Limited.