Energy efficient construction, transport sectors can reduce carbon emission in Bangladesh: Experts

Use of energy efficient equipment in construction work and power-dependent industries, classifying all public transports according to their energy efficiency and replacing old, more fuel-consuming vehicles can help Bangladesh reduce carbon emission, says the Center for Participatory Research and Development (CRPD).

The CRPD came up with eight such recommendations at a roundtable discussion titled "Perspective and Expectations from NDC to lessen the Climate Change impacts in Bangladesh" on Saturday for the finalisation of Enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). 

The speakers discussed various reasons for carbon emission and recommendations at the discussion.

The CRPD also recommends ensuring construction work is based on appropriate building codes. It also said the under-construction metro rail can reduce road transport pressure by about 14.9%.

The discussion stated that 55% of the total carbon emitted from the construction sector in 2012 came from brick kilns. Therefore, it is possible to set and achieve NDC's increased goals by returning back from conventional brick production and increasing their use in the production of other environmentally friendly materials and building construction.

The CRPD suggested producing biogas and using it in rural areas as an alternative to biofuel to reduce carbon emissions from irrigation in the agricultural sector.

CRPD chief executive Md Shamsuddoha presented the keynote speech and chaired the discussion.

Quoting the IPCC's 1.5 degrees centigrade report published in 2018, he highlighted the significance of the enhanced carbon emission reduction to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees centigrade from the pre-industrial era.

Shamsuddoha said, "Already the Earth has warmed by 1.1 degrees centigrade and we have only a decade left to turn down global emission otherwise the Earth may warm up to 3 to 4 degrees centigrade."

Countries that submitted their NDCs for emission reduction in 2015 are far away from the aspirations of achieving the goal of below 2 degrees temperature rise as stated in the Paris Agreement.

He also said the civil society and various stakeholders of the country should be consulted to take the NDC process forward and take part in building Bangladesh as a sustainable, environmentally friendly developed country.

The former research director of BIDS, Dr M Assaduzzaman said the energy sector is the main contributor to the emission of CO2.

"We have handed over the responsibility of preparing the NDC to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change. It is not a democratic process," he said.

"The NDC document prepared meanwhile could be termed a ministry document rather than a national document, because other stakeholders and ministries have not been involved in the NDC preparation process," he added.