Increase use of public transport to reduce air pollution: Minister

Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin on Tuesday said that increased use of public transport instead of private vehicles can reduce air pollution caused by harmful emissions. 

He also stressed the need for emphasising improvement in the quality of vehicles in terms of their fuel usage, proper maintenance of motor vehicles and development of the transport infrastructure and services.

The Minister was delivering remarks while presiding over the 2nd session of the International Conference on 'Climate Action and Resilience in Transport', jointly organized online by the United Nations and the United Nations Environment Program and some national and international organisations, from his official residence in Dhaka.

The Environment Minister said "The use of fossil fuels in household appliances and private cars, motorcycles has increased in the Asia region, along with rest of the world.  As a result, greenhouse gas emissions have increased at an alarming rate."

He said most countries in the world have signed and ratified the Paris Climate Agreement. "Attempts are being made to restrict the increase in average temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-Industrial Revolution period.  To this end, Bangladesh has submitted the nationally Determined Contribution Plan. Japan and South Korea, the two major economies in Asia, have declared carbon neutrality by 2050.  We can only succeed if we all work together in a joint plan."

Deputy Executive Director of Clean Air Asia Glynda Bathan, Affiliated Researcher of Stockholm Environmental Research Lailai Li,  Cities and transport Division manager of the World Research Institute Chaitaya Kanuri, President of Sino- Canadian company Robert Earley, representatives from the World Bank, Jica and many other national and international organisations were present among others.