Since October 31, world leaders, top climate officials, and activists have gathered at the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow to renegotiate the pledges and commitments for the Paris Agreement.
The world is on a dangerous track of facing severe consequences of a destabilized climate and these pledges and commitments of the countries will be decisive for the fate of this planet at the end of this century.
Bangladesh, as one of the worst sufferers of the destabilized climate, has already raised its claims to the world leaders, particularly to the industrialized top emitters. Four claims highlighted the national COP26 statement:
- Top emitters should submit more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and implement them
- Developed countries should fulfil their commitments for mobilizing $100 billion annually to climate vulnerable countries for adaptation and mitigation
- Developed countries should support the climate vulnerable countries with clean and green technologies at affordable costs
There should be a global share of responsibilities for climate migrants displaced by sea-level rise, salinity increase, river erosion, floods and droughts.
Beforehand, the Bangladesh government updated its NDC in August 2021 as a preparation for the COP26 with a goal of 15% (5% unconditional and 10% conditional) reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with the 2015 level.
Bangladesh also presented its “Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan” -- a part of it is to serve 40% of its energy demand from renewable sources by 2041 -- and to establish a Climate Emergency Pact and National Adaptation Plan.
But these claims can be substantiated manifold and complemented by meaningful climate action -- not only with strengthened adaptation but also with an exponential mitigation plan. As the chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and V20, Bangladesh is promoting the interests of 48 climate vulnerable countries -- to which and to the global leaders, Bangladesh can be a leading example.
Bangladesh should urge for an immediate removal of all fossil fuel subsidies, particularly in industrialized developed nations and mobilize those subsidies to incentivize decentralized clean energy generation in developing climate vulnerable countries.
Fossil fuels are still heavily subsidized and the recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) report shows that these pre-tax subsidies increase by a factor of four in the post-tax subsidies if we include the cost of health externalities from, for example, air pollution.
Removal of these subsidies can mobilize significant funds to “Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund” for decentralized production of renewable energy and elsewhere to provide to those 1.1 billion people, who still don’t have access to electricity.
At the same time, Bangladesh should completely divest from assets linked to fossil fuels. Any stocks, bonds, or sponsorship of any fossil fuel company or investor should be stigmatized and any domestic and foreign investment from and for fossil fuels should be depreciated.
Bangladesh has already denied foreign investments for installing 10 coal power plants that are worth $12bn. Stronger divestment policy will strengthen Bangladesh’s claim for investments and resources for clean energy technologies and climate resilient infrastructures.
Bangladesh’s climate action plan is centered around adaptations, for good reasons. But Bangladesh can leapfrog at the climate mitigation front by adopting exponential strategies. Currently, the country achieved only 3% of its total renewable energy potential while the target was to achieve 10%.
The total production of solar energy can be scaled up to 40 gigawatt by 2041, while wind energy production can be scaled up to 30 gigawatt. With these achieved, only solar energy can meet 50% of the country’s electricity demand by 2041.
Bangladesh currently accounts for less than 0.47% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the majority of which comes from its cities. With the ongoing rapid urbanization, Bangladesh should adopt an aggressive policy for building carbon-neutral cities and settlements.
The country’s urban planning should promote walkable and cyclable cities, equipped with mass transit systems and urban greening. New buildings should be energy efficient and constructed with sustainable materials while the old buildings should be properly retrofitted.
The Bangladesh government should publicly and widely reveal the immoral implications of fossil fuels. This should include the casualties of air pollution and the displacement by sea-level rise, salinity increase, river erosion, floods, and droughts. Disclosing information about climate migrants by proper census is the key to draw attention of the international communities on the severity of climate change.
And finally, Bangladesh should strengthen its climate education and engagement programs. Despite 63 million children in Bangladesh being physically and socially vulnerable to climate change with an $85m incurred costs for reconstructing schools, resupplying textbooks, and other materials, climate awareness is still impaired.
Pupils and educators should receive hands-on climate adaptation and mitigation education at schools while learning climate change impacts should be made compulsory in the school curriculums. As the success of Fridays for Future movement showed us -- education is powerful.
Dr Avit Bhowmik is an Assistant Professor of Risk and Environmental Studies and the Research Director of Centre for Sustainable Societal Transformation at Karlstad University, Sweden.