Awami League lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury, also the former president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board was recently appointed as the special envoy to the prime minister on climate change, and he is also the chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
Where is Bangladesh in terms of climate preparations and where does Bangladesh stand in climate negotiations and receiving funds?
Bangladesh as a country has already completed some basic steps like the inclusion of Article 18/A in the constitution (which enunciates that the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment), introducing a planetary emergency in the national parliament, raising climate funds, and introducing a climate budget.
We want to be a global leader in thought and action. We don't want to be a climate change victim; we want to be a global leader. I will assist the prime minister's vision and mission in the environment and climate sectors and work to protect the people and lives of Bangladesh in the fight against climate change. We have already made a National Adaptation Plan, which will require $230 billion in the next 27 years.
What we are getting from the international climate forum is another concern. At the last Conference of Parties (COP) in Egypt, I was the coordinator for the Least Development countries. Loss and damage were a focal demand from the LDC countries, but the developed countries are not following through on their promises.
In Paris, it was committed that we would get $100 billion, including $50 billion for adaptation and $50 billion for mitigation. But the fund is still a far cry.
There is no definition of a climate fund. Some quarters are often giving different other funds in the name of climate funds, this is also a reality.
Recently, you said in a tweet that climate change is mightier than a nuclear weapon. Could you elaborate?
Some developed countries are investing billions of dollars to purchase weapons, but climate change is more powerful than nuclear weapons. If developed countries complete their promises and disburse the funds to climate affected countries, it will have a very positive result for the affected countries.
For example, in Bangladesh, we need to give more focus to the public health sector. Due to climate change, we are bound to invest more in public health than our fundamental needs. But we are not getting committed funds from the developed countries.
Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka TribuneIf the temperature continues to rise at the current rate, then after a certain time, adaptation will fail. Climate change is an existential crisis, it is not only a national crisis. If the sea level of Bangladesh rises 1 metre, almost 40 million people will be displaced, and the map of Bangladesh will change. There are no security threats like climate change.
In addition, every year we are losing 2% of our GDP due to climate change, and by 2040 or 2045, we will lose 9% of our GDP at current trends. Although Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, if we can achieve 8% GDP growth and lose 9 percent due to climate change, then finally it will result in negative growth for Bangladesh.
What about the use of fossil fuels?
Around 80% of carbon emissions are caused by fossil fuels. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took a very brave decision by closing 10 coal-based power plants. The premier also said Bangladesh will produce 40% of its demand through renewable energy by 2040.
How will you coordinate with every department in the fight against climate change?
We have to do it; there is no other option. We have to fight in a coordinated manner, and that's why we need political commitment. This is one of the big challenges for us. We also need to change our mentality. Development is not conflicting with the environment now. Sustainable development ensures the protection of the environment as well.
Has the development work in Bangladesh in recent years been environmentally friendly?
It is not right to make a rail line inside a reserve forest or to install electric wires inside forests, but these things happened here, and we cannot deny this. We made a safari park and foot overbridge with the Climate Change Trust Fund, and this was not a proper use of the fund.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is only one person. We should follow her directions and plans, but this is not happening everywhere and not every time. We have to think about and execute the prime minister's environment plan properly, this is a responsibility for all of us.
I think if we can work together, we can achieve anything, as we have proven before. People used to say Bangladesh would never achieve anything in cricket, but now we have test status and play in the World Cup.
