Environmentalists and rights activists have emphasised on expansion of renewable energy for improving air quality and energy in Bangladesh.
“If 40 per cent of the electricity can be generated from clean energy or renewable energy by 2041, the country’s air quality will be in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO),” they said.
The environmentalists and the rights activists made the statement at a press conference held at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital on Saturday (August 5, 2023).
They placed a five-point recommendation at the press conference in order to increase the use of renewable energy that will ensure the country’s air quality as per the guidelines given by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The recommendations are-- (1) maintaining at least the previous standard of 15 micrograms per cubic meter in the newly framed Air Pollution (Control) Rules-2022 in order to reduce the serious impact of air pollution in the future; (2) maintaining the emission standards in thermal power generation in Bangladesh in the same way that the countries providing support in thermal power generation adhere to the emission standards in their own countries; (3) ensuring import and use of low sulfur (50 ppm) diesel; (4) all coal, oil and gas based thermal power plants should be kept under red category in the Environment Protection Rules-2023 as before (Environmental Conservation Rules, 1997); and (5) taking effective measures to achieve the target of 40 per cent clean energy or renewable energy generation by 2041 as announced by the Prime Minister at COP26.
Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), Bangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK) and World Vision Bangladesh jointly arranged the press conference demanding expansion of renewable energy for clean air and energy development.
The press conference was co-hosted by Bangladesh Nature Conservation Alliance (BNCA), Center for Law and Policy Affairs (CLPA), Institute for Planning and Development (IPD) and Paribesh Udyog.
Prof Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, founding chairman of CAPS; presented the keynote speech.
He said that the increase of the use of renewable energy by reducing dependence on fossil fuels can be an effective solution to address the challenges. He expressed hope that if the use of renewable energy is ensured, the country’s air quality will be as per the WHO guidelines.
He further said that the use of renewable energy plays a vital role in both air quality and energy development. The use of fossil fuels to meet the energy demand is constantly increasing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, which can play a vital role in global climate change as well as cause massive deterioration of air quality.
Mihir Bishwas, joint secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (BAPA); presided over the press conference, while it was attended, among others, by Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin, secretary of Center for Law and Policy Affairs (CLPA); Professor Dr. Adil Mohammad Khan, executive director of Institute for Planning and Development (IPD); Muhammad Anwarul Haque, member secretary of BNCA and secretary general of Save Our Sea; Md. Jahangir Alam, coordinator of BARCIK; Kamruzzaman Sagar, project director of BARCIK; Dominic Centu Gomez, technical coordinator at Urban Program of World Vision Bangladesh; Abdul Wahab, executive director of CGED; Eng Nashir Ahmed Patwari, research coordinator of Paribesh Udyog; and Advocate Rasheduzzaman Mazumdar, a lawyer of Supreme Court.
In the presidential speech, Mihir Bishwas said that air pollution has reached such a level that now heavy metals are mixing in the blood of human body through breathing. Combustion of biofuel releases various pollutants into the air which are extremely harmful to the human body. The power sector and shredder should expand renewable energy more, he added.
Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin of CLPA said that as per the constitution of Bangladesh, the environment must be preserved for the present and future generations. In this situation, air pollution control is essential for public health and development of the country. Renewable energy is definitely essential for this. In the short term, the city authorities and the Department of Environment (DoE) should take initiative to stop the pollution from construction work. They also should take step to provide eco-friendly public transport to control vehicular pollution, he opined.
Muhammad Anwarul Haque of BNCA said that fossil fuels not only cause air pollution but are also responsible for aquatic environment pollution. Tidal and wind energy have huge potential in coastal areas and the authorities concerned should work to increase the country’s renewable energy supply by using the right technologies.
Dominic Centu Gomez of World Vision Bangladesh said that it is the right of people to live in clean air, which is one of the government’s responsibilities to ensure, and if not, the risk of contracting various critical diseases increases to a large extent. However, at present there is a lack of clean air in the country especially in the urban areas. There is no alternative to increasing the use of renewable energy to balance the environment and keep the wheels of the economy moving.
Jahangir Alam of BARCIK said that not only research institutes like CAPS, but also youth society should come forward to preserve the air quality and environment. The government should take initiatives to control the pollution by identifying the sources of air pollution.
Professor Dr. Adil Mohammad Khan of IPD said that compared to the amount spent in the past years in the production of electricity in various fossil power plants of the country, including quick rental, the investment and research of the state in the development of renewable energy is significantly less. Although state policies and plans promise to reduce air pollution, development initiatives and activities are further degrading our air quality, he added.
