[🇧🇩] Save the Rivers/Forests/Hills-----Save the Environment

[Krishna with Flute]

Govt should ensure rights of rivers as juristic people

THE discharge of untreated industrial effluent into rivers continues with the authorities knowing fully well that such a situation would only push the rivers towards their death. The photograph...

www.newagebd.net

Govt should ensure rights of rivers as juristic people
09 November, 2024, 00:00

THE discharge of untreated industrial effluent into rivers continues with the authorities knowing fully well that such a situation would only push the rivers towards their death. The photograph of a Shyampur stretch of the River Buriganga that New Age published on November 8 shows how untreated industrial effluent kills the river. In the wake of World Cities Day, observed on October 31, the photograph should serve as a pressing wakeup call for the government to take stern action against the pollution of rivers by way of the discharge of untreated industrial effluent. This is merely one point into the river where industrial effluent is discharged. There are thousands of industries around the capital Dhaka, bounded by four rivers and a canal — the Balu and Sitalakkhya on the east, the Turag and the Buriganga on the west, Tongi Canal on the north and the Dhaleshwari on the south. And the industries on the fringes of the capital and on the outer sides bordering the rivers keep polluting the rivers with their untreated effluent. There have been court directives for the government and its agencies to stop such pollution. There have been initiatives to stop such pollution that have fallen through or petered out.

But why do such initiatives have failed? They have so done, mostly because when it comes to the task on the ground, the agencies, a horde of them, start engaging in blame trade, with one in its effort to pass the blame for such a situation and the responsibility to stop such pollution onto others. There has also been noticeable incoordination between the agencies when they start trying to stop industries from discharging untreated effluent into the rivers. And, they usually do not do the job efficiently, effectively and seriously, leaving scopes for the polluting industries to continue with their marauding discharge once government initiatives stall and the furore that occasionally breaks out dies down. This has been a regular phenomenon, especially around occasions related to the cause of the environment, when green campaigners rise up to advance environmental causes, the court renews its efforts and the media make some report, censuring the government for its inaction. The High Court in February 2019 declared rivers to be ‘living entities’, rendering them as ‘juristic people’ having rights to be legally protected and put the rivers, as not being usual living entities, under the care of a guardian called the National River Conservation Commission. The court ordered river pollution, along with river grab, to be treated as criminal offences, noting that killing a river amounts to a collective suicide. Yet nothing substantial has so far happened.

It is, therefore, time that the government took an integrated approach to stop river pollution with untreated industrial effluent, by getting at the industries that have sprung along the rivers, not only around the capital city also across the country, forcing them to treat the effluent before the discharge into the rivers.​

Government should make it a fundamental right to have clean and pollution free river water to all from river. First and foremost, thing is to maintain the water flow in river. We need lots of soil preservation and afforestation measures to maintain flow in river. A big moment in public private partnership is required to have rivers flowing with full flow once again.

 

[Saif]

Yunus asks Bangladesh to make extra efforts in COP29

He made the call in Baku just after he arrived in the Azerbaijan capital to lead Bangladesh in the annual UN-led climate change summit

www.thedailystar.net

Yunus asks Bangladesh to make extra efforts in COP29

Photo: CA press wing

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today asked the Bangladesh officials and NGOs and civil society leaders to put up extra efforts to highlight the country's climate crisis concern at the COP 29 conference in Baku.

He made the call in Baku just after he arrived in the Azerbaijan capital to lead Bangladesh in the annual UN-led climate change summit.

"Our main efforts will be to include our concerns and demands in the final declaration of the COP29," he told the Bangladesh delegation during a coordination meeting at a hotel in Baku.

At the meeting, Environment Secretary Farhina Ahmed briefed the officials about Bangladesh's stance on some key issues of the conference.

She said Bangladesh has set up nine teams to negotiate in all major areas, including climate finance, loss, and mitigation, and just transition and adaptation mechanisms in the summit.

At least 29 NGOs and civil society groups from Bangladesh are joining the COP29, she said.

She said despite assurance from the rich countries in the Global North, Bangladesh has so far received $344 million of grants and $250 million of loans as climate finance.

Earlier, at around 5:15pm local time, Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus arrived in Baku.

He will join the main summit of COP29 tomorrow and will speak in at least three major events.​

 

[Saif]

Climate debt is an unfair burden for Bangladesh

COP29 must secure fair climate finance for vulnerable nations

www.thedailystar.net

Climate debt is an unfair burden for Bangladesh
COP29 must secure fair climate finance for vulnerable nations

VISUAL: STAR

The fact that a climate debt has been accumulating in Bangladesh's name is both alarming and unjust, especially considering the country's minimal contributions to global climate crisis. According to a report citing data from the Dhaka-based research organisation Change Initiative, the country's per capita climate debt climbed to nearly $80 (about Tk 9,500) in 2022 from just over $2 in 2009. This places an unfair burden on our citizens that they should not have to bear.

This debt has reportedly accumulated because Bangladesh has funded projects to address the impacts of climate change. In 2009, the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) was created to support adaptation and mitigation initiatives. Currently, around six to seven percent of the national budget is allocated for climate adaptation each year, with 75 percent of this funding coming from domestic sources. Still, Bangladesh had to take $12.78 billion in climate debt to finance multiple projects between 2009 and 2022.

This might not have been an issue if Bangladesh had received the international financial support pledged for climate-vulnerable nations. At COP15 in 2009, developed countries committed to providing $100 billion annually by 2020 to help vulnerable nations adopt adaptation and mitigation measures. But the developed countries—primary contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—have failed to fulfil this commitment. In fact, in many cases, the pledges have turned into loans when those should have been grants (finance without any conditions).

Bangladesh, contributing just 0.56 percent of global GHG emissions, is ranked seventh in the long-term climate crisis index. Yet, between 2009 and 2022, the country received only $268 million in grants from the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, and LDC Fund. Meanwhile, as climate change worsens, the situation grows more severe: in coastal regions, around 3.6 crore people are now at heightened risk due to rising sea levels, river erosion, severe cyclones, and saltwater intrusion. Annual losses due to climate-related disasters are estimated at $3 billion, and climate-induced displacement is on the rise. Reversing these impacts in the country would require $230 billion, according to the National Action Plan (2023-2050). Why should we bear this cost when we have done so little to cause the crisis?

The refusal of developed countries to take full responsibility, leaving vulnerable nations saddled with debt, is unacceptable. Bangladesh must use COP29, which is being touted as the "Finance COP," to emphasise the need for substantial increases in climate finance as grants, not loans. This is non-negotiable, and Bangladesh and other climate-vulnerable nations must stand firm. We hope the chief adviser attending COP29 will succeed in conveying the urgency of this situation and pressing for genuine climate justice.​

 

[Saif]

Sundarbans must be protected at all costs

The Rampal power plant is causing various environmental issues, harming the forest and the Pasur and Maidara rivers near the forest.

www.thedailystar.net

Sundarbans must be protected at all costs
Government should consider phasing out Rampal power plant

VISUAL: STAR

As experts repeatedly cautioned long before the Rampal power plant became partly operational, the project is already causing various environmental issues, harming the Pasur and Maidara rivers near the Sundarbans as well as the forest itself. According to a report by this daily, the first unit of the coal-fired plant began operating in late 2022 without an effluent treatment plant (ETP), and it has since been discharging untreated waste into the rivers. This not only violates a condition set by the Department of Environment (DoE) but is also seriously damaging to aquatic life, potentially making fish unsafe for consumption.

A report published by the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS) in September revealed that wastewater from the plant is being discharged into the Maidara River—which converges with the Pasur—without proper treatment. As a result, mercury levels in the rivers have risen. CEGIS collected water samples from 14 locations near the plant on four occasions since February 2023, finding that mercury levels had exceeded the government-set acceptable limit of 0.0001 mg/L, reaching 0.001 mg/L. Between February and April this year, CEGIS teams found that while civil works for the ETP were completed, the mechanical and instrumental components were still unfinished.

Mercury contamination poses serious risks to the ecosystem. Phytoplankton and zooplankton, the microscopic organisms essential to aquatic ecosystems, absorb mercury, which then accumulates in fish, reducing their ability to reproduce. Humans and other animals consuming such fish may face serious health risks, according to experts. Moreover, local villagers who bathe in the rivers or use their water for daily chores are exposed to harm. We may recall that, in 2017, Greenpeace released a study warning that the plant would emit enough mercury to make fish within approximately 70 square kilometres unsafe for consumption. All this underscores why building the plant near the Sundarbans was a terrible idea from the outset.

The CEGIS report highlights many other alarming issues. Interestingly, however, the deputy general manager of the plant claims that the ETP has been "fully operational" for some time. If that's the case, why is the environment around the plant still being damaged? This is a question the government must investigate urgently. Immediate steps must be taken to mitigate the environmental damage caused by the plant, while a long-term plan for its discontinuation should be considered to prevent lasting damage to the ecosystems of Sundarbans, which is invaluable to Bangladesh and its people.​

 

[Saif]

Yunus reaches Azerbaijan for COP29

Global leaders to discuss how to avoid increasing threats from climate change

www.thedailystar.net

Yunus reaches Azerbaijan for COP29
Global leaders to discuss how to avoid increasing threats from climate change

Photo: PID

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus reached Baku, Azerbaijan this evening (local time) to attend the UN's biggest climate conference, COP29, which is seen as a "pivotal opportunity" to accelerate action to tackle the climate crisis.

A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, carrying the CA and his entourage, left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 11:00am (local time).

Prof Yunus is leading a small delegation and will return home on November 14, a senior official at his office told UNB.

Global leaders and diplomats from across the world are joining the annual climate summit to discuss how to avoid increasing threats from climate change in a place that was one of the birthplaces of the oil industry.

The 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) is taking place from November 11 to 22.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, who will be attending the COP29, stressed the urgent need for global unity in tackling climate change.

Rizwana urged developed countries to fulfil their climate finance commitments and provide technological support to nations most vulnerable to climate impacts.

"It's time that developed nations uphold their commitments to support the most affected countries," she asserted, highlighting the disproportionate challenges faced by vulnerable nations like Bangladesh.

It was in Baku where the world's first oil fields were developed in 1846 and where Azerbaijan led the world in oil production in 1899.

Sandwiched between Iran in the south and Russia in the north, Azerbaijan is on the Caspian Sea and was part of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1991.

Nearly all of Azerbaijan's exports are oil and gas, two of the world's leading sources of planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev described them in April as a "gift of the gods."

Aliyev said it is a "big honour" for Azerbaijan to host the conference.

He has also said he wants his country to use more renewable energy at home so that it can export more oil and gas abroad, according to the AP.

With global temperatures hitting record highs, and extreme weather events affecting people around the globe, COP29 will bring together leaders from governments, business and civil society to advance concrete solutions to the defining issue of time.

A key focus of COP29 will be on finance, as trillions of dollars are required for countries to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect lives and livelihoods from the worsening impacts of climate change, according to the host.

The conference will also be a key moment for countries to present their updated national climate action plans under the Paris agreement, which are due by early 2025.

If done right, these plans would limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and double as investment plans advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.

With climate impacts inflicting growing human and economic costs in every country, every COP is a vital global moment that must deliver major progress, and COP29 is no exception.​

 

[Saif]

Climate debt is an unfair burden for Bangladesh

COP29 must secure fair climate finance for vulnerable nations

www.thedailystar.net

Climate debt is an unfair burden for Bangladesh
COP29 must secure fair climate finance for vulnerable nations

VISUAL: STAR

The fact that a climate debt has been accumulating in Bangladesh's name is both alarming and unjust, especially considering the country's minimal contributions to global climate crisis. According to a report citing data from the Dhaka-based research organisation Change Initiative, the country's per capita climate debt climbed to nearly $80 (about Tk 9,500) in 2022 from just over $2 in 2009. This places an unfair burden on our citizens that they should not have to bear.

This debt has reportedly accumulated because Bangladesh has funded projects to address the impacts of climate change. In 2009, the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) was created to support adaptation and mitigation initiatives. Currently, around six to seven percent of the national budget is allocated for climate adaptation each year, with 75 percent of this funding coming from domestic sources. Still, Bangladesh had to take $12.78 billion in climate debt to finance multiple projects between 2009 and 2022.

This might not have been an issue if Bangladesh had received the international financial support pledged for climate-vulnerable nations. At COP15 in 2009, developed countries committed to providing $100 billion annually by 2020 to help vulnerable nations adopt adaptation and mitigation measures. But the developed countries—primary contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—have failed to fulfil this commitment. In fact, in many cases, the pledges have turned into loans when those should have been grants (finance without any conditions).

Bangladesh, contributing just 0.56 percent of global GHG emissions, is ranked seventh in the long-term climate crisis index. Yet, between 2009 and 2022, the country received only $268 million in grants from the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, and LDC Fund. Meanwhile, as climate change worsens, the situation grows more severe: in coastal regions, around 3.6 crore people are now at heightened risk due to rising sea levels, river erosion, severe cyclones, and saltwater intrusion. Annual losses due to climate-related disasters are estimated at $3 billion, and climate-induced displacement is on the rise. Reversing these impacts in the country would require $230 billion, according to the National Action Plan (2023-2050). Why should we bear this cost when we have done so little to cause the crisis?

The refusal of developed countries to take full responsibility, leaving vulnerable nations saddled with debt, is unacceptable. Bangladesh must use COP29, which is being touted as the "Finance COP," to emphasise the need for substantial increases in climate finance as grants, not loans. This is non-negotiable, and Bangladesh and other climate-vulnerable nations must stand firm. We hope the chief adviser attending COP29 will succeed in conveying the urgency of this situation and pressing for genuine climate justice.​

 

[Saif]

Haggling over climate cash 'very humiliating': Prof Yunus

"I think that's very humiliating, for nations to come and ask for money to fix... (the) problem that others caused for them," Yunus told AFP in an interview in Azerbaijan

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Haggling over climate cash 'very humiliating': Prof Yunus

Photo: AFP

In the three months since becoming Bangladesh's interim leader following a student-led revolution, Muhammad Yunus has endured political turmoil, impatient cries for elections, and destructive flooding across the low-lying nation.

Now, the Nobel Peace Prize winner has been thrust into a brawl over money to help poorer countries deal with climate change -- and he is not pleased about it.

The 84-year-old micro-finance pioneer, who took over after the toppling of autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina in August, likened the haggling at the UN COP29 climate summit to a "fish market".

"I think that's very humiliating, for nations to come and ask for money to fix... (the) problem that others caused for them," Yunus told AFP in an interview in Azerbaijan, which is hosting the talks.

"Why should we be dragged here to negotiate? You know the problem."

Nations hope to land a deal at COP29 that boosts funding for climate action in developing nations like Bangladesh, which are least responsible for global warming, but most at its mercy.

Some want $1 trillion a year to cover the enormous cost of shifting their economies to clean energy, and adapting to ever-more erratic and extreme weather.

But rich countries -- whose rise to prosperity and associated carbon emissions have driven global warming -- are reluctant to commit such large sums and want others to chip in.

The talks have hit a wall, frustrating leaders of climate-imperilled nations who left behind populations in dire straits to travel to Baku.

Among them is Yunus, who said his riverine homeland had been smashed by six punishing floods -- "each one worse than the previous" -- in the short time since he took over.

Hundreds of thousands of people were forced into emergency shelters in the floods, which also destroyed rice crops.

Bangladesh is among the world's most vulnerable nations to climate change, with large areas made up of deltas where the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers wind towards the sea.

The country of 170 million is particularly at risk of devastating floods and cyclones -- disasters that only stand to accelerate as the planet keeps warming.

Yunus said it was "not a secret" that rich nations would have to help poorer ones adapt and they should "figure out how much is needed -- not me".

"This is not something we are demanding out of your generosity. We're asking because you are the cause of this problem," he said bluntly.

Yunus said juggling a peaceful democratic transition and a flood response was "difficult" enough and adding a flight to Baku to feud over climate finance didn't help.

Impatience for elections in Bangladesh has gained pace since Hasina's ouster, and the silver-haired technocrat said he shared concerns for peace and security in the nation of 170 million.

A free and fair vote would come as promised, he said, but the speed of democratic reforms "will decide how quick the election will be".

He wouldn't offer a date or timeline, but said the caretaker administration was hoping to build "a quick consensus".

"We are the interim government, so our period should be as short as possible," he said.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh interim govt chief for ‘zero carbon’-based lifestyle to save planet

Bangladesh’s interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday suggested creating a new lifestyle based on ‘zero waste and zero carbon’ to protect the planet from climate catastrophes, presenting his longstanding dream of creating a new world of three zeroes...

www.newagebd.net

Bangladesh interim govt chief for ‘zero carbon’-based lifestyle to save planet
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka 13 November, 2024, 16:03

BSS photo

Bangladesh’s interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday suggested creating a new lifestyle based on ‘zero waste and zero carbon’ to protect the planet from climate catastrophes, presenting his longstanding dream of creating a new world of three zeroes.

‘In order to survive, we need to create another culture. A counter-culture which is based on a different lifestyle. It is based on zero waste. It will limit consumption to essential needs, leaving no residual waste,’ he said while speaking at the opening session of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit in COP29, held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

This lifestyle will also be based on zero carbon where there will be no fossil fuel but only renewable energy, Professor Yunus said, adding there will be an economy that will be based primarily on zero personal profit like the social business, according to a message received here.

Defining the social business as a non-dividend business addressed to solve social and environmental problems, he said a vast part of social businesses will focus on protecting the environment and mankind.

‘Human lives will not only be protected but qualitatively enhanced through affordable healthcare and education. It will facilitate entrepreneurship for the youth. Young people will get prepared through new education of entrepreneurship. Education of creating job seekers will be replaced by entrepreneurship-focused education,’ the chief adviser said.

Mentioning that the safety of the environment needs a new lifestyle, the 2006 Noble Peace Laureate said the lifestyle would not be imposed but it would be a choice.

He said the young people would love that lifestyle as a choice, while each young person will grow up as a three zero person - zero net carbon emissions, zero wealth concentration, through building social businesses only, and zero unemployment by turning themselves into entrepreneurs.

‘Each person will grow up as a three zero person, and remain a three zero person all his/her life. That will create the new civilisation,’ he said.

‘It can be done. All we need to do is accept a new lifestyle consistent with the safety of the planet and all who live on it. Today’s generation of youth will do the rest. They love their planet.’

‘I hope you’ll join me in this dream. If we dream together, it will happen,’ Professor Yunus said.

About global climate change, the chief adviser said the climate crisis was intensifying and that was why human civilisation was at grave risk as people continued to promote self-destructive values.

‘We need to mobilise our intellectual, financial and youth power to lay the foundation for a new civilisation -- a self-preserving and self-reinforcing civilisation. We, the human inhabitants of this planet are the cause of the destruction of the planet,’ he said.

Professor Yunus said the people were doing it deliberately and they had chosen a lifestyle which worked against the environment, while they justified this with an economic framework, which was considered as natural as the planetary system.

‘That economic framework thrives on limitless consumption. The more you consume the more you grow. The more you grow, the more money you make. Maximisation of profit is treated as the force of gravity which lets everything in the system play its role according to our desire,’ he added.​

 

[Saif]

A dumping zone called Manu river

The Manu river in Moulvibazar is facing severe pollution as various types of waste, including household garbage, are routinely dumped along its banks.

www.thedailystar.net

A dumping zone called Manu river

Photo: Star

The Manu river in Moulvibazar is facing severe pollution as various types of waste, including household garbage, are routinely dumped along its banks.

As a result, the riverbed is being gradually filled with non-biodegradable materials such as plastic and polythene. Moreover, the water itself is being contaminated with decaying waste.

During the monsoon, the river's swift currents temporarily conceal the waste, but as the water recedes, heaps of garbage become visible along the two-kilometre stretch from Chandnighat Manu Bridge to Borahat in Moulvibazar Municipality.

Locals, many of whom rely on the river for bathing and household activities, are unknowingly exposing themselves to health risks by using this polluted water. Additionally, market waste, spoiled produce, and animal remains are also discarded into the river, often under the cover of night.

Md Abdul Khaliq, a retired teacher, and Mujahid Ahmed, editor of the literary magazine Chotokagaz Chorus, said the situation is not limited to the Manu River; even the Shanti Bagh Walkway, located along the riverbanks, has become a dumping ground, further polluting the environment.

Acknowledging the issue, Abdul Motin, waste management officer for Moulvibazar municipality, said they have undertaken plans to raise awareness through loudspeakers, as well as banners and posters in prominent locations.

"However, locals' cooperation is essential to make these efforts successful," he added.​

 

[Saif]

'Mercury Bomb': A gift from climate change

What effects will the mercury bomb have on humans?

www.thedailystar.net

'Mercury Bomb': A gift from climate change

Keeping mercury, together with the GHGs, locked away in the permafrost is enough reason to make sure these landmasses do not melt. PHOTO: REUTERS

"Mercury Bomb," an unknown weapon until recently, yet a deadly one, is a gift to humanity from climate change. So, what is it after all? To answer this question, we have to know a little bit about this metallic element in liquid form, its properties and how it can affect, or more precisely, kill human beings, including animals, and threaten the food chain.

Known as "liquid silver" because of its shiny silvery appearance, mercury is a naturally occurring substance. It is also an inevitable by-product of coal-fired power plants and aqueous waste of the chemical industries. The element is highly toxic, acting as a potent neurotoxin by binding to and inhibiting the function of enzymes and proteins critical for nerve cell function.

When released into the atmosphere, mercury settles in nearby streams and rivers, thereby causing considerable damage to the aquatic ecosystem by polluting the rivers of the region. It eventually enters the food chain via algae and infects all forms of wildlife, in the rivers and on land, from fish to birds to mammals, whose diet includes fish.

The metallic element circulates in small amounts through the natural world too, because it is absorbed by plants, which then die and become part of the soil. Besides, because of an effect called the Cold Trap, our planet's natural atmospheric circulation tends to funnel pollutants toward high latitudes, leading to mercury accumulation in the Arctic region, where it bonds naturally to organic matter in the permafrost, and remains trapped for thousands of years. It should be noted that the Arctic communities have no typical mercury-producing industries.

What is permafrost? As the name suggests, it is a layer of soil and rock, with some extending 1,500 metres into the ground, that remains frozen. There are about 23 million square kilometres of permafrost covering roughly 25 percent of exposed land surface not covered with glaciers. It is found mainly in polar regions and high-latitude areas, such as the Arctic, Siberia, Alaska and northern Canada. In summer, the top several metres melt, creating an active layer where plants can take root and refreezes in winter, while the deeper layers remain permanently frozen.

This unending icy mass and its impressive size is a vital feature of the Earth's coldest climates with important impacts on human and natural systems. It acts as a gigantic storage vault for mercury, various minerals, dangerous microbes, viruses and pathogens, alongside greenhouse gases (GHG), mainly carbon dioxide and methane that are responsible for rising global temperatures. The amount of mercury stored in the permafrost eclipses the amount in the oceans, soils, atmosphere and biosphere combined. Hence, keeping mercury, together with the GHGs, locked away in the permafrost is enough reason to make sure these landmasses do not melt. That is why climate scientists consider the health of our permafrost a likely climactic tipping point.

However, as the Arctic continues to warm as a result of climate change—four times faster than the global average—due to the phenomenon of "Arctic amplification," which is enhancement of near-surface air temperature over the Arctic relative to lower latitudes, permafrost is thawing at unprecedented rates in many areas, reaching deeper into the ground. Permafrost is therefore not so permanent and is rapidly becoming unstable as the planet becomes warmer. During a recent trip to Alaska with my family, we saw first-hand the physical effects of permafrost thawing—ground subsidence that buckled highways, damaged railroads, airstrips, homes and other structures, as well as uprooted trees.

As it defrosts, permafrost also releases whatever materials were locked inside of it, ranging from GHGs to toxic metals like mercury. Specifically, mercury that has been locked in the permafrost for millennia is being eroded by rivers and released into the environment. When released, it is often converted by microbes into methyl mercury, which is a neurotoxin that accumulates in the bodies of humans through the foods we eat.

A new study published in the Environmental Journal Letters (August 2024) concludes that the released mercury will potentially set off a "mercury bomb" that could greatly impact some millions of people living around the Arctic Circle. According to the researchers, a "giant mercury bomb" in Alaska is being washed away by rivers such as the Yukon River, depositing copious amounts of mercury into the riverbanks.

What effects will the mercury bomb have on humans? The researchers note that "Decades of exposure, especially with increasing levels as more mercury is released, could take a huge toll on the environment and the health of those living in these areas." In fact, they believe that leaked mercury may endanger approximately three million people who live in areas where permafrost is predicted to vanish completely by the year 2050.

Of the many substances that interact negatively with our physiological systems, mercury is the most dangerous because when ingested, it is stored in our body and has cumulative effect. The silvery metal can have serious effects on our nervous system, spanning from tremors, memory problems, cognitive thinking, brain and kidney damage, coordination issues (trouble walking) and mood changes to developmental issues in children, notably their motor skills. Pregnant women and children are primarily at risk of mercury poisoning. Eating fish from mercury polluted rivers can cause severe disability including deafness and blurring of vision, mental derangement, neurological defects and even death.

Mercury poisoning among indigenous people is of great concern. In Canada, traditionally fish-eating Aboriginal Peoples classed as Indians have been reeling from the harmful effects of mercury poisoning in their fish, where the pollution has been linked to high rates of attempted suicide among youth. One of the deadliest episodes of mercury poisoning occurred in 1953 among people who ate seafood from Minamata Bay (Japan) into which large quantities of methyl mercury was released by a chemical factory.

A particularly disturbing study shows that one-fifth of all Americans may have mercury levels exceeding EPA recommendations of no more than one part per million. No other pollutant even comes close to mercury for violating federal standards.

Finally, for millennia, the Arctic has kept our planet healthy and happy by locking away GHGs, mercury and other toxic metals. But after two centuries of an unyielding fossil fuel addiction, the ticking mercury bomb is waiting to explode with far-reaching consequences.

Dr Quamrul Haider is professor emeritus at Fordham University in New York, US.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh faces per capita climate debt burden of $79.61: CDRI 2024

The Climate Debt Risk Index 2024 (CDRI), introduced by Change Initiative (CI), calls for a complete overhaul of the global climate finance framework. The report advocates for grant-based financing, 100 per cent debt relief, and a nature-based economy as essential measures to combat escalating clima

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bangladesh faces per capita climate debt burden of $79.61: CDRI 2024
UNB
Published :
Nov 14, 2024 23:54
Updated :
Nov 14, 2024 23:54

The Climate Debt Risk Index 2024 (CDRI), introduced by Change Initiative (CI), calls for a complete overhaul of the global climate finance framework. The report advocates for grant-based financing, 100 per cent debt relief, and a nature-based economy as essential measures to combat escalating climate debt burdens.

The CDRI, based on an analysis of 20 vulnerable Least Developed Countries (LDCs), uncovers alarming trends that threaten equity, justice, and sustainable development in climate finance. Countries such as Mozambique, Madagascar, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka rank among the highest at risk, with Madagascar's Climate Debt Risk Index projected to reach 81.41 by 2030.

The study reveals that total climate debt for the selected 20 LDCs peaked at $2.73 billion in 2014 and, despite fluctuations, remains significant, reports UNB.

The overall climate debt burden has risen 24-fold, from $0.88 billion in 2009 to $21.25 billion in 2022. Among LDCs categorized as "High Risk," Bangladesh and Malawi are experiencing rising Climate Debt Risk Index (CDRI) scores, signaling worsening fiscal vulnerability.

Bangladesh faces a disproportionate per capita climate debt burden of $79.61, despite its heightened vulnerability to climate impacts.

Its Climate Risk Index (CRI) score of 28.33 further emphasizes the country's exposure to climate-induced challenges.

In addition, Nature Conservation Management (NACOM) presented insights into the country’s disaster experiences over the last two decades.

These findings were discussed during a COP29 side event jointly organized by CI and NACOM on November 14 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Chief Executive of Change Initiative, M. Zakir Hossain Khan, during his keynote on the Climate Debt Risk Index 2024, emphasized transitioning from a greed-based economy to nature-based prosperity.

“The global financial system must be reformed towards natural rights-based equity and justice in climate finance mechanisms. Transitioning to 100% grant-based adaptation funding by 2025 will strengthen equitable climate resilience for the most affected communities. Accelerating debt cancellation through 'debt-for-climate swaps' will enable vulnerable nations to prioritize sustainable climate investments,” he said.

He added, “Mobilizing $480 billion annually by 2030 is critical to aligning global climate finance with the Paris Agreement targets and securing climate resilience.”

SM Munjurul Hannan Khan, Executive Director of NACOM, highlighted the devastating economic impact of natural disasters, saying, “Natural disasters have inflicted staggering damages—$1.7 billion during Cyclone Sidr (2007), $1 billion in 2022 floods and landslides, and $583.4 million from Cyclone Remal in 2024—crippling livelihoods in agriculture and fisheries.”

Dr. Madhav Karki, Chief Advisor, Forest, Environment, and Climate Change, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Nepal, called for prioritizing climate justice and equity in global climate finance. He remarked, “Reforming the global financial system and uniting LDCs to claim their rightful share under the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) is essential.”

Dr. Fazle Rabbi Sadek, Lead Negotiator of Climate Finance for Bangladesh, emphasized, “Unethical and unjust practices in climate finance accounting have undermined climate justice. LDCs deserve at least 12% of the carbon budget to ensure equity.”

Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bangladesh, said, “Bangladesh and LDCs have joined COP not to beg but to demand climate justice. A paradigm shift in the global climate regime is urgently needed. The CI offers strong scientific evidence of climate debt risks, which the Government of Bangladesh will leverage in future discussions on climate finance.”

A.K.M. Sohel, Additional Secretary, Economic Relations Division, Bangladesh, noted, “Despite OECD’s claims of providing $100 billion annually under the Copenhagen Accord, only 15% of funds have been climate-specific, highlighting a glaring shortfall.”

In 2017, M. Zakir Hossain Khan warned at COP23 about the looming risks of a climate debt trap for vulnerable nations—a warning now substantiated by the CDRI 2024. The analysis reveals a 24-fold increase in climate debt since 2009, with Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Rwanda among the most affected in terms of per capita climate debt burdens. Sri Lanka, with the highest Loan-Grant Ratio (12.13), exemplifies the heavy reliance on debt, while Afghanistan remains the sole recipient of grant-only climate financing.

The report also underscores that mitigation dominates funding allocation, sidelining essential adaptation efforts for the most vulnerable communities.

Solutions such as carbon taxes, wealth taxes, and fossil fuel subsidy reforms are urgently needed to address these inequities and safeguard LDCs' futures.

The event featured a distinguished panel including Prof. Mizan R. Khan, Research Fellow at Brown University; Prof. Abdur Rob Mollah, Chairman, NACOM; Paromita Aronee, Research Assistant, Change Initiative; and Tanjir Hossain, Global Resilience Advisor, ActionAid International. Salauddin Ahmed Reza, Senior Reporter, Jamuna TV, moderated the program.​

 

[Saif]

Carbon neutrality is non-negotiable

Major polluters must help nations most vulnerable to climate change.

www.thedailystar.net

Carbon neutrality is non-negotiable

VISUAL : STAR

As Bangladesh and other vulnerable countries grapple with the devastating effects of climate change, the urgency for global action has never been clearer. With the world passing through what is expected to be the warmest year on record, the stakes are higher than ever. At COP29, nations are presently discussing their next course of action, but ongoing tensions, especially after climate change denier Donald Trump's victory in US elections, reveal a worrying lack of political resolve. Equally concerning is the fact that, nearly a decade after the Paris Agreement was signed, efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius remain woefully inadequate, while climate finance promises also remain unmet.

Against this backdrop, recent research highlights a sobering reality: that to address the current environmental degradation, the world needs to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by the late 2030s, not 2050. This is a stark reminder that we are running out of time. Thus, it is painful to see ongoing political inertia, funding crisis and refusals, as well as continued resistance from major polluters. This is not only threatening our planet but disproportionately impacting countries like Bangladesh.

One of the most striking moments at COP29 came from Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis, who pointed to how vast financial resources are mobilised for military conflicts while affluent nations remain reluctant to address the existential threat of climate change. His criticism is particularly poignant when we consider the environmental toll of war. For instance, the first 60 days of Israel's ongoing war in Gaza produced approximately 281,000 metric tonnes of CO2. These realities underscore the irony of a world that can finance war but struggles to do the bare minimum to prevent its downfall.

Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus's message at COP29—calling for a "zero waste" world and an economic model that reduces consumption—also resonates powerfully. He expressed frustration with the climate finance negotiations, calling it "humiliating" for vulnerable nations to beg for financial assistance. Yunus argued that these nations, which have contributed the least to global warming, should not be put in a position where they must plead for help, while wealthier nations that have contributed the most continue to evade their obligations.

The fact is, achieving carbon neutrality is not a negotiable goal. It is essential for the survival of nations like Bangladesh. As the world approaches critical climate thresholds, we must push for stronger global response, and ensure that the wealthiest nations deliver on their commitments on emissions and climate financing.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh should endorse the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty

Being a low-lying delta, we are highly susceptible to sea-level rise, which is causing coastal erosion, displacement of communities, and saltwater intrusion into agricultural lands.

www.thedailystar.net

Bangladesh should endorse the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty

The climate movement in Bangladesh has been calling for justice and rights. PHOTO: REUTERS

Bangladesh is currently in a crucial transition period with reform initiatives taken in a number of areas. Urgent reform in the energy sector is also needed. As a climate justice activist, I have been advocating for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty since 2021, around the same time that Professor Muhammad Yunus—now the head of the interim government in Bangladesh—first endorsed the proposal for a global treaty to manage a fast and fair transition away from coal, oil and gas extraction.

Bangladesh is a country particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Being a low-lying delta, we are highly susceptible to sea-level rise, which is causing coastal erosion, displacement of communities, and saltwater intrusion into agricultural lands. Our nation is prone to cyclones, floods, and droughts, which have devastating consequences for its population and economy. The primary contributor to climate change causing such catastrophes in Bangladesh is the fossil fuel industry.

The fossil fuel industry is not only at the heart of climate change but it is also intertwined with decades of corruption in Bangladesh. The wave of corruption cases increasingly shows the role of the fossil fuel industry in an era of deception and misconduct. Fossil fuel industries have monopolised the energy sector through unnecessary power plant constructions, contract extensions, inflated service charges on fuel imports, and excessive capacity payments. Because of the former government's policy, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) had to buy electricity from privately owned fossil fuel-based companies at inflated prices. Although a large part of the power generation capacity remains unused throughout the year. Even when there is no electricity production by these companies, BPDB still has to pay capacity charges to the power plants. Additionally, the country has been left in a bad state due to electricity imports from an Indian company. As a result, our dependence on fossil fuels makes us more vulnerable to price fluctuations and supply disruptions.

All these indicate that we need to reform our energy sector—one that is free of fossil fuels. If we are bringing change, we need to depend on a new system, to stop the dependency on fossil fuel imports, and avoid market monopolisation by fossil fuel lobbyists. For that, we are calling on the current government to join the bloc of countries seeking to negotiate a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty.

The proposals in the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty align with Bangladesh's national climate change strategy, which aims to reduce vulnerability to climate change and promote sustainable development. Supporting the treaty and a fast and fair transition away from fossil fuels can attract investment in renewable energy projects, creating jobs and boosting the economy.

The climate movement in Bangladesh has been calling for justice and rights. Our work is not over even after a successful mass resistance and protest against injustice and the silencing of rights of Bangladeshi people. Now begins the more difficult work of creating actual, lasting reform.

Global treaties have historically proven effective in addressing worldwide threats such as the ozone layer depletion and phasing out landmines. The fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty would provide a similar international framework to phase out fossil fuels based on three pillars: i) non-proliferation—ending the expansion of new coal, oil and gas fields; ii) a fair phase out—transitioning away from existing production in line with 1.5C global temperature threshold, with wealthy countries shifting first and fastest; iii) a global just transition—support and financing a global shift to renewables in which no worker, community, or country like ours is left behind.

Favourably, the proposals in the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty align with Bangladesh's national climate change strategy, which aims to reduce vulnerability to climate change and promote sustainable development. Supporting the treaty and a fast and fair transition away from fossil fuels can attract investment in renewable energy projects, creating jobs and boosting the economy.

As a youth champion of the treaty, I urge the interim government to take the initiative to endorse it during the ongoing COP29 UN climate summit in Baku. By endorsing the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, Bangladesh, under Dr Yunus's leadership, can demonstrate its commitment to addressing climate change and protecting its population from the devastating impacts of global warming. We could take the lead as the first nation in South Asia to back this bold, powerful, and historic proposal.

Farzana Faruk Jhumu is a climate activist and a co-founder of Kaathpencil.​

 

[Saif]

Burnt bricks in govt construction to be stopped by 2025: Rizwana

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the use of burnt bricks will be stopped in all government constructions by 2025. “Letter has been sent to the government offices informing to stop using burnt bricks in any construction works as government is the biggest

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Burnt bricks in govt construction to be stopped by 2025: Rizwana
FE Online Desk
Published :
Nov 15, 2024 20:23
Updated :
Nov 15, 2024 20:23

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the use of burnt bricks will be stopped in all government constructions by 2025.

“Letter has been sent to the government offices informing to stop using burnt bricks in any construction works as government is the biggest consumer of bricks for various construction works like roads and buildings and bricks are used in large constructions,” she told BSS in an interview.

The adviser said the government should adopt an alternative of burnt bricks and it can be resolved if the government issues a demand letter.

Noting that brick kilns are one of the causes of environmental pollution, Rizwana said the government is on strict stance to stop it.

New brick kilns in the country will not be given clearance as operations of 3,491 brick kilns have been shut due to lack of environmental clearance, she said.

About environmental pollution caused by the use of polythene, she said that the action against banned polythene or polypropylene shopping bags has been started since November 3. Various activities have also been taken to stop the use of polythene in various shopping malls in the capital, she said.

Noting that vehicle honking is a threat to public health, she said it’s a national duty to her to stop the sound of horn.

Because many people are becoming deaf due to this honking, their physical ailments are increasing, she said adding such activities are unacceptable in any middle income country.

Vehicle honking has been banned at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and its adjacent areas and these areas have been declared as horn-free areas.

The adviser said in January 2025, 10 roads of the capital Dhaka will be declared horn-free. Horn-free silent zones will be announced in phases across the country.

From next December to January, the government will launch a campaign with the participation of school-college students to stop the honking horn, she said.

She, however, called for raising mass awareness to this end.

About the country’s only coral island, St. Martin’s, the adviser said, the government has taken various initiatives and plans to protect St. Martin’s and the tourism industry together.

Referring to experts’ opinions about St. Martin’s, she said no one can build a military base on that soft land. Now those who are waging movement over St. Martin’s are ship owners and hotel owners and they are inciting the local people there, she said.

“There is no confusion over St. Martin’s. These confusions are political and ill-motivated,” she said.

About river pollution, the adviser said that the DCs had been asked to free at least one river from pollution in 64 districts of the country within two months.

About the COP29 conference, she said the government’s position on this conference is very clear. Bangladesh has called for meeting the target of 100 billion dollars, because they have given a quarter of funds from this target, she said.​

 

[Saif]

Green steps in 100 days earn public praise

Protecting Saint Martin from degradation and making the government offices completely free from polythene have earned huge appreciation from common people as the interim government has taken multifaceted actions plans and initiatives in the field of environment during its first 100 days since

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Green steps in 100 days earn public praise
FE Online Desk
Published :
Nov 15, 2024 20:08
Updated :
Nov 15, 2024 20:08

Protecting Saint Martin from degradation and making the government offices completely free from polythene have earned huge appreciation from common people as the interim government has taken multifaceted actions plans and initiatives in the field of environment during its first 100 days since assuming office on August 8.

The initiative of declaring some areas of the city horn-free zones was also appreciated as a major step in line with the people’s long expectations, reports BSS.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has taken an initiative to stop the use of single-time plastic in all government offices including the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan sent demi official letter to the Cabinet Division in this regard and encouraged alternative use.

In view of this, the Cabinet Division gave directives to all ministries, departments, offices and field-level offices to stop using listed Single Use Plastics (SUP) and use alternatives.

Action against banned polythene has begun in different areas of Dhaka city with fining 26 companies. Mobile courts have geared up raids against the production, sale, supply and marketing of polythene across the country.

The government is working to stop the use of polythene shopping bags in megamalls and chain shopping malls in the capital from November 3. Monitoring committees were set up for regular monitoring of the execution of the initiative of the ministry.

Leaflets are being distributed making people aware of the health risks of using polythene in their everyday life.

A campaign has been launched to curb the use of polythene in ten kitchen markets in the capital.

The use, production, sale, and transportation of polythene bags are banned under the Bangladesh Environmental Protection Act, 1995 (Amendment 2002).

The environment ministry’s decision to stop vehicle honking in various part of the city has also drawn much appreciation. The government has prohibited honking of vehicles at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and adjacent areas from October 1.

In January 2025, 10 streets of the capital Dhaka will be declared horn-free. Later horn free silence zones will be declared across the country.

The ministry has embarked upon a massive campaign to make people aware on environmental issue in different ways.

Bangladesh Air Force, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka Traffic, Roads and Highways, Department of Environment, APBN, Bangladesh Truck and Covered Van Owners Association, Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association, teacher-student representatives and volunteers have joined hand to support the ministry’s initiative for environment causes.

The government has decided to fine Taka 500 for excessive horn blowing in the initial stage. The existing law will be reformed from December to January.

The Ministry recovered 700 acres of reserve forest, which was allocated by the previous government for setting up Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Academy of Public Administration Training Institute (for Public Administration Academy) in Cox’s Bazar.

Under the National Air Quality Management Plan (NAQMP) steps were taken to stop hill cutting. Divisional commissioners of Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet and Mymensingh and the district administrators of 19 districts have taken steps to prevent hill cutting.

In order to boost social forestry and to sustain the creation of forest resources, an initiative has been taken to revise the existing Social Forestry Rules.

Measures were undertaken for forest conservation, biodiversity, and improvement of the quality of life of 6000 forest-dependent communities of Madhupur Shalban area.

The government has taken various initiatives to protect the country’s only coral island St. Martin’s and the tourism industry together.

St. Martin is being protected to prevent coral bleaching, including protecting the island’s nature and wildlife. The government has limited the tourism to the island to protect its natural balance and livelihood of local people as well.

An updated list of establishments has been prepared in order to free St. Martin Island from single-use plastic and stop construction of hotels, motels, restaurants and establishments illegally.

The entry fee of the National Botanical Gardens under the Forest Department has been rationally re-fixed.

Steps were taken to cancel the environmental clearance of Forest Department on 9466.93 acres of land in Sonadip in Cox’s Bazar district, causing damage to the environment and surroundings.​