{"id":20080155,"date":"2021-10-25T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thethirdpole.net\/?p=80155"},"modified":"2021-11-02T15:28:00","modified_gmt":"2021-11-02T09:58:00","slug":"bangladesh-pitches-for-climate-sensitive-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/climate\/bangladesh-pitches-for-climate-sensitive-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"Bangladesh pitches for climate-sensitive growth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ahead of the UN climate talks, Bangladesh\u2019s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated her commitment to \u201cleading the path to a solution\u201d. This is \u201cnot only because we wish to avert the worst of climate change,\u201d she wrote<\/a> in the Financial Times, \u201cit also makes economic sense.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Considered one of the worst victims<\/a> of climate change due to its geography and socioeconomic status, Bangladesh has started cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in accordance with its climate pledges. But as it strives to graduate to middle-income status by the end of the decade, the country is grappling with the need to square its carbon-heavy growth path with the need to transition<\/a> away from fossil fuels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s in the climate pledge?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In August 2021, Bangladesh updated<\/a> its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The NDC sets a 22% cut of all heat-trapping emissions by 2030 compared with 2012. This is to be achieved through a wide range of mitigation measures in the energy, land use and waste sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pledge outlines a series of mitigation strategies for the power sector in particular, such as increasing the share of renewable sources in the energy mix, which is currently negligible; reducing coal; and installing prepaid meters. It also looks to reduce traffic congestion, promoting non-motorised vehicles, shifting from road to rail and more. Crucially, it wants to invest in natural gas, a controversial strategy to offset more polluting fuels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTaking the business and economic activities in 2012 as yardsticks,\u201d explained Mirza Shawkat Ali, the director in charge of the climate change department at the environment ministry, \u201cwe have calculated that [without interventions] Bangladesh would gradually generate nearly 410 million tons of GHGs in 2030.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOut of this projected total, we have proposed to cut 27.56 million tons, or 6.73% of emissions in 2030,\u201d Ali said.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cWe have also proposed a further 61.9 million tonnes, or 15.21%, of emission cuts, provided we get financial and technological support,\u201d he added. \u201cBangladesh contributes less than 0.5% to the global emissions budget. As a Least Developed Country we have offered our highest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fossil-fuelled growth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to Bangladesh\u2019s NDC, the energy sector accounts for about 55% of the country\u2019s emissions, followed by agriculture, forest and land use, waste and industrial processes. By 2030, the UN expects the energy sector to make up more than 76% of Bangladesh\u2019s carbon emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n