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

[Saif]

Must Buriganga die?

The days are not far off when people will talk about Buriganga river in the past tense. There is still a stretch of narrow water body called Buriganga which was 45 kilometres long when the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) measured it in 2005. But it became shorter by 26 km when BWDB again

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Must Buriganga die?
SYED FATTAHUL ALIM
Published :
Nov 18, 2024 21:51
Updated :
Nov 18, 2024 21:52

The days are not far off when people will talk about Buriganga river in the past tense. There is still a stretch of narrow water body called Buriganga which was 45 kilometres long when the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) measured it in 2005. But it became shorter by 26 km when BWDB again measured its length in 2011. And this river, now a shadow of its glorious past, is diminishing in length, width and depth every day, thanks to the endless encroachment of its banks by land-grabbers as well as its being the favourite dumping site for Dhaka's industries and sewer system.

But whatever is still left of the river is a dark mass of foul-smelling water where no aquatic life, except perhaps sucker fish, can survive. For the amount of dissolved oxygen in its water goes down to 2 milligrams per litre (mg/L), even 1 mg /L, during lean seasons. But for aquatic life to survive and grow, the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) in water should be more than 6.5 to 8 mg/L.

The governments in the past undertook numerous projects to free Buriganga from pollution and encroachers. Five rivers including the Buringanga, namely Turag, Sitalakhya, Balu and Dhaleswari that surround the Dhaka city are equally polluted by wastes from industries and Dhaka's sewerage system. To revitalise these rivers, the previous regime undertook a seven-year programme. To implement the programme through some 29 projects, the government of the time planned to spend USD20 billion. It was estimated at that time that unless urgent action was taken to free those rivers from pollution, the loss to the nation would be as high as USD51 billion in the next 20 years. So, another megaproject styled 'Umbrella Investment Plan-Dhaka Rivers' was in the pipeline. But ultimately it could not see the light of day as the government that conceived it was dislodged from power during August 5's student-mass upheaval. However, there was nothing wrong with the idea of salvaging Buriganga and four other interconnected rivers, which basically constitute Dhaka's lifeline. But given the history of massive corruption involving every megaproject undertaken during the previous regime, one wonders what the cost overruns against those 29 projects under the so-called 'Umbrella Investment Plan-Dhaka Rivers', in short Dhaka Rivers, would finally come to. As experience goes, such big projects created the opportunity for the ruling apparatchiks and their cohorts to loot the state exchequer.

However, the interim government, whose environment, forest and water resources adviser herself is an environment crusader can consider the positive aspects, if any, of the Dhaka Rivers project and see if it could be implemented in a modified form to save Buriganga and its other interlinked rivers.

True, the interim government with its limited mandate may not undertake ambitious projects. In this connection, the environment adviser in one of her interviews with the media said that due to time constraint, her government would rather select a small number of rivers from eight divisions and try to free them, particularly from industrial wastes and encroachers. And those would serve as models for future governments to emulate, she viewed. Cleaning other rivers such as the heavily polluted Buriganga, in her view, is a hugely challenging task as the chromium in the Buringanga water will take a long time to remove.

But will the elected governments of the future take the risk of freeing Buriganga, in particular from pollution and encroachment? For none of the governments in the past could even start the work of saving Buriganga despite no end of promises they made. Why? Because, it is the vested interests who grab the river's banks, set up polluting factories, dockyards, you name it, and the governments are always helpless before their power! Or are they?

So, Buriganga must die.​

 

[Saif]

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/cop16-on-biodiversity-an-appraisal

COP16 on biodiversity: an appraisal
Hasnat Abdul Hye
Published :
Nov 18, 2024 21:41
Updated :
Nov 18, 2024 21:41

Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) held in Cali, Colombia from October 21 to November 1 Photo : Agency

The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) has come to be associated with the annual summit on climate change with such automatic conditioned reflex that other conferences held under the same rubric are easily confused with the former or ignored altogether. So, it was not surprising when the sixteenth conference of parties on the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) held in Cali, Colombia from October 21 to November 1 did not receive much coverage from media. The fact that the majority COP summit (COP29) on climate change to be attended by heads of states and governments was just around the corner (12 November at the Azerbaijani capital Baku) might also be a factor in overwhelming the publicity for COP16 at Cali on biodiversity.

Polemics apart, it has to be admitted that secondary billing given to COP on biodiversity is because of its smaller scope and status in the overall state of the planet compared to COP on climate. By definition, biodiversity is limited to life forms and organisms on earth's terrestrial space. Secondly, its preservation depends greatly on climate and though climate change is caused by factors like denudation of forests, the same cause and effect relation does not exist as it does in respect of biodiversity-climate nexus. But in terms of outcome for human security and welfare, biodiversity's role is significant by any reckoning. That makes a review of COP16 on biodiversity that has just concluded in Cali, Colombia worth going through. To provide a backdrop to the latest development on the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) it may be helpful to re-visit the genesis and trajectory of this convention.

It began in 1988 in a meeting of an Ad Hoc Working Group of experts convened by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) to discuss the state of biodiversity in planet earth. The following year the legal text was drafted that addressed the issues of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in the world as well as the sharing of benefits arising from their utilisation with sovereign states and local communities. In 1991, an intergovernmental negotiating team was formed to finalise the Convention's text. The following year a Conference for the adoption of Agreed Text of the CBD was held in Nairobi, Kenya. The conclusion from the Conference was documented in the Nairobi Final Act following which the Convention's text was opened for signatures at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in June, 1992, which was also known as 'Rio Earth Summit'. By its closing date on 4 June, 1993, the Convention had received 168 signatures. The Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) entered into force on 23 December, 1993.

The CBD recognised for the first time in international law that the conservation of biodiversity is a 'common concern of humankind' and is an integral part of the development process. The agreement on CBD covers all ecosystems, species and genetic resources in the world. It links traditional conservation efforts to the economic goal of using biological resources sustainably. The Convention sets principles for the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. It also covers the rapidly expanding field of bio-technology through its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety issues , technology development and transfer, benefit- sharing and biosafety concerns.

As of 2024 the Convention has 196 Parties, including 195 states and the European Union (EU). Among the Parties, the United States (US) has signed but has not yet ratified the Convention, the matter having been blocked in the US Senate.

SUPPLEMENTARY AGREEMENTS: In addition to the main text of the Convention, there are two supplementary agreements signed by the Parties. The first is the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biodiversity, which is an international treaty governing the movements of living modified organisms (LMOS) , resulting from modern biotechnology, from one country to another. The Cartagena Protocol, (named after the historic city of Cartagena, Colombia where the subject was first discussed) also known as the Biosafety Protocol, makes clear that products from new technologies must be based on the human safety principle and allow developing nations to balance public health against economic benefits. It will, for example let countries ban imports of genetically modified organisms if they feel there is not enough scientific evidence that the product is safe and requires exporters to label shipments containing genetically altered commodities. The required number of 50 instruments of ratification/approval by countries was reached in May, 2003 and the Protocol entered into force on 11 September 2003 and had 173 Parties.

THE SECOND SUPPLEMENTARY AGREEMENT TO THE CBD IS THE NAGYOA: Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation. The protocol provides a transparent framework for the effective implementation of one of the three objectives of CBD: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic process. The Nagyoa Protocol was adopted in October, 2010, and came into force on October 2014.

Implementation by the Parties to the Convention is achieved using two means: (a) National Biodiversity Strategies and (b) Action Plans. These are the principal instruments for implementing the Convention at the national level. The Convention requires that countries (Parties) prepare a national biodiversity strategy and ensure this strategy is included in planning for activities in all sectors where diversity may be impacted. By 2022, 173 Parties had prepared national strategies and action plans.

STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2011-2020: At the tenth meeting of the Parties (COP10). held in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan a revised 'Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020' was agreed upon. The published document included 20 targets that address each of the five strategic goals that coincided with the launch of Agenda 2030 by UN on Sustainable Goals (SDGs). The Convention on Biodiversity published a technical report mapping and identifying synergy between the 17 SDGs and the 20 Biodiversity target's.

POST-2020 GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK: A new plan, known as the post- 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), was developed to guide action through 2030s, the final draft of which was released in July, 2021.Reducing agricultural pollution and sharing the benefits of digital sequence information emerged as key points of contention among Parties during preparation of the new framework. The framework was finally adopted in 2022 and had a number of ambitious goals, including commitment to designate at least 30 per cent of global land and sea as protected areas.

MAIN CRITICISMS: The main criticism against CBD has been that its implementation has been weakened due to resistance of Western countries, particularly in respect of the provisions that protect the interests of the global south. As the perpetrators of greater damage to global biodiversity, the industrially developed countries of the north have been reluctant to make concessions with regard to their use of resources that impact on biodiversity. The Convention is also criticised for going soft from its original hard stipulations, making compromises under pressure. The argument to enforce the treaty as a legally binding multilateral instrument with the Conference of Parties reviewing the infractions and non-compliance is gaining ground.

The third criticism is about omissions and commissions. Although commitments have been made to contribute to a fund for protection of fragile ecosystems, contributions by developed countries have been paltry. Finally, in violation of CBD previsions that all life forms are to be covered, examination of reports and of national biodiversity strategies and action plans reveal that this is not happening. For example, the fifth report of the EU makes frequent reference to animals (fish and plants) but does not mention bacteria, fungi etc. As a result no document was assessed as 'good' or 'adequate' while less than 10 per cent reports have been found to be 'nearly adequate' or 'poor'. The rest have been described as deficient, seriously deficient or totally deficient.

SPECIAL AREAS OF INTERVENTION: In the area of marine and coastal biodiversity, CBD's focus is at present to identify Ecologically and Biologically Significant marine areas (EBSAs) in specific ocean locations based on scientific criteria. The goal is to create an internationally legally binding instrument involving area-based planning and decision-making to support conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction. Preserving mangrove and rain forests to protect the various ecosystems under them has received top priority in the activities of CBD. Even desert ecology has received due attention with the common goal of preserving biodiversity. Achievements of goals in all these respects have been frustrated by lack of due diligence by governments in enforcing the restrictions on the use of natural resources like plant and animals. Commercial interests of multinational companies in extracting natural resources have also been a great impediment. The upside is, without CBD and its regular monitoring, damage to biodiversity would have been greater and more alarming.

COP MEETINGS: The meetings of the Parties to the Convention are known as Conference of Parties (COP). The first one (COP1) was held in Nassau, Bahamas in 1994 and the most recent ones were held in Kunming and Montreal (COP15) in 2021-2022 and in Cali, Colombia (COP16) on October-November, 2024.COP on CBD is held on alternate years unlike the COP on climate change that takes place annually.

The agenda of COP16 held in Cali, Colombia from October 21 to November 1 this year featured a variety of topics including discussions on how to implement the Kunming-Montreal (so named because COP15 was divided between the two cities) Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) to achieve the goal of living in harmony with nature by 2050. This involved operationalisation of the monitoring framework, mobilising financial resources, progress on restoration of 30 per cent of degraded land by 2030 and finalising a multilateral mechanism on Access and Benefit Sharing. In pursuance of this agenda, two dozens of global goals were earmarked for monitoring by Parties. But the most important item in the agenda was contribution by Parties, particularly developed countries to the $200 billion dollar fund to help developing countries to take measures for protection of endangered ecosystems and species.

After reaching some key agreements, the final negotiation of COP16 was suspended at the last minute, to be resumed at a future date. The Conference, while answering some major questions, left the main issue of funding open and unresolved. So, the roadmap for preserving endangered ecologies and species, remains to be drawn up in a future that remains uncertain.

The only good news to warm the hearts of environmentalists, particularly indigenous people, was the establishment of a new body dedicated to the Indigenous People's rights, roles, territories and knowledge. The creation of this subsidiary body for indigenous people as a participating entity in future biodiversity talks under the CBD is a recognition of the people who have, for millennia, co-existed with managed and enriched biodiversity through traditional knowledge. By fulfilling a demand of longstanding, COP16 was considered a success even though it failed on the funding issue.

On ocean protection, COP16 saw Parties agreeing to establish a standardised way to identify ocean areas with high ecological value. In doing so, COP16 helped pave the way for the Global Ocean Treaty to be ratified by June, 2025. Additionally, the interconnectedness between biodiversity and climate action was acknowledged, further clearing the way forward for protecting the ecosystems that sustain people and the planet.

Another achievement of COP16 has been a win for people power despite intense lobbying from Big Pharma and Big Agribusiness to pass a resolution requiring corporate bodies to pay for protection of nature. This means companies using genetic resources from nature to make products like medicine, cosmetics, genetic-engineered seeds and scientific research will now have to pay back to protect nature.

CONCLUSIONS: Clearly, in preserving biodiversity funding is of the essence. Public financing from developed countries has to come, sooner rather than later. How this will be achieved has now been left to leaders of developed countries who will be represented at the next meeting of Parties. COP17, to be held in Armenia in 2026, will have a crowded agenda, as usual. But like chickens coming home to roost, the funding issue will be on top.​

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Must Buriganga die?

The days are not far off when people will talk about Buriganga river in the past tense. There is still a stretch of narrow water body called Buriganga which was 45 kilometres long when the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) measured it in 2005. But it became shorter by 26 km when BWDB again

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Must Buriganga die?
SYED FATTAHUL ALIM
Published :
Nov 18, 2024 21:51
Updated :
Nov 18, 2024 21:52

View attachment 10744

The days are not far off when people will talk about Buriganga river in the past tense. There is still a stretch of narrow water body called Buriganga which was 45 kilometres long when the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) measured it in 2005. But it became shorter by 26 km when BWDB again measured its length in 2011. And this river, now a shadow of its glorious past, is diminishing in length, width and depth every day, thanks to the endless encroachment of its banks by land-grabbers as well as its being the favourite dumping site for Dhaka's industries and sewer system.

But whatever is still left of the river is a dark mass of foul-smelling water where no aquatic life, except perhaps sucker fish, can survive. For the amount of dissolved oxygen in its water goes down to 2 milligrams per litre (mg/L), even 1 mg /L, during lean seasons. But for aquatic life to survive and grow, the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) in water should be more than 6.5 to 8 mg/L.

The governments in the past undertook numerous projects to free Buriganga from pollution and encroachers. Five rivers including the Buringanga, namely Turag, Sitalakhya, Balu and Dhaleswari that surround the Dhaka city are equally polluted by wastes from industries and Dhaka's sewerage system. To revitalise these rivers, the previous regime undertook a seven-year programme. To implement the programme through some 29 projects, the government of the time planned to spend USD20 billion. It was estimated at that time that unless urgent action was taken to free those rivers from pollution, the loss to the nation would be as high as USD51 billion in the next 20 years. So, another megaproject styled 'Umbrella Investment Plan-Dhaka Rivers' was in the pipeline. But ultimately it could not see the light of day as the government that conceived it was dislodged from power during August 5's student-mass upheaval. However, there was nothing wrong with the idea of salvaging Buriganga and four other interconnected rivers, which basically constitute Dhaka's lifeline. But given the history of massive corruption involving every megaproject undertaken during the previous regime, one wonders what the cost overruns against those 29 projects under the so-called 'Umbrella Investment Plan-Dhaka Rivers', in short Dhaka Rivers, would finally come to. As experience goes, such big projects created the opportunity for the ruling apparatchiks and their cohorts to loot the state exchequer.

However, the interim government, whose environment, forest and water resources adviser herself is an environment crusader can consider the positive aspects, if any, of the Dhaka Rivers project and see if it could be implemented in a modified form to save Buriganga and its other interlinked rivers.

True, the interim government with its limited mandate may not undertake ambitious projects. In this connection, the environment adviser in one of her interviews with the media said that due to time constraint, her government would rather select a small number of rivers from eight divisions and try to free them, particularly from industrial wastes and encroachers. And those would serve as models for future governments to emulate, she viewed. Cleaning other rivers such as the heavily polluted Buriganga, in her view, is a hugely challenging task as the chromium in the Buringanga water will take a long time to remove.

But will the elected governments of the future take the risk of freeing Buriganga, in particular from pollution and encroachment? For none of the governments in the past could even start the work of saving Buriganga despite no end of promises they made. Why? Because, it is the vested interests who grab the river's banks, set up polluting factories, dockyards, you name it, and the governments are always helpless before their power! Or are they?

So, Buriganga must die.​

In modern times, we chase many fake narratives without addressing the basics. In an enthusiasm to chase blind Industrialization, we lost the connection with basics such as soil, Jungle, water resources preservation. There was a poverty time in subcontinent country where we were struggling to meet our ends. Now we have money. Survival struggling period is over. Now we should start focusing on basic things like expanding green zone, revival of Rivers, reestablishment of water bodies, soil revival etc.

 

[Saif]

COP29: Bangladesh seeks Japan’s support for waste management, emissions reduction

Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, Climate Change, and Water Resources of Bangladesh Syeda Rizwana Hasan held a bilateral meeting with Japan's Minister of Environment Keiichiro Asao at the Delegation Office of Japan during the ongoing World Climate Conference (COP-29). The discussions

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

COP29: Bangladesh seeks Japan’s support for waste management, emissions reduction
M AZIZUR RAHMAN From Baku, Azerbaijan
Published :
Nov 19, 2024 22:00
Updated :
Nov 19, 2024 22:00

Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, Climate Change, and Water Resources of Bangladesh Syeda Rizwana Hasan held a bilateral meeting with Japan's Minister of Environment Keiichiro Asao at the Delegation Office of Japan during the ongoing World Climate Conference (COP-29).

The discussions emphasised enhanced cooperation by signing a memorandum of understanding on waste management, carbon crediting, climate resilience initiatives, and other avenues for mutual cooperation.

Addressing the meeting, the advisor highlighted waste management as a pressing issue for Bangladesh, contributing approximately 10 per cent (21.04 million tons of CO2-equivalent) of its total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Dhaka alone generates 6,000 tons of waste daily, 73 per cent of which ends up untreated in landfills, exacerbating methane emissions. Bangladesh wants Japan's support in establishing integrated resource recovery facilities, waste-to-energy plants, and sanitary landfills to achieve its 8.0 per cent emission reduction target under the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

The meeting underscored the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) as a crucial tool in advancing low-carbon technologies. Since the signing of the bilateral agreement in 2013, Bangladesh has implemented four JCM projects, including the Southwest transmission grid expansion project, with financial and technical support from Japan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Bangladeshi companies benefit from up to 50 per cent subsidies under JCM projects, transferring an equivalent share of carbon credits to Japan. The advisor called for increased private sector participation in future carbon crediting initiatives.

Bangladesh also seeks Japan’s assistance in meeting its updated NDC targets of reducing 15.12 per cent of CO2 emissions by 2030, conditional on international support. Potential collaboration areas include renewable energy, hydrogen energy, e-mobility, and industrial pollution control. Additionally, Bangladesh’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023-2050, requiring $230 billion for implementation, offers vast investment opportunities for Japanese stakeholders.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan emphasised Japan's expertise in environmental reforms and pollution control as a model for Bangladesh’s ongoing industrialisation and urbanization. Strengthening institutional capacity through innovative solutions and training programmes for the Department of Environment will be pivotal for tackling emerging challenges.

Japan's Minister of Environment Keiichiro Asao remarked Japan is committed to supporting Bangladesh in addressing environmental challenges through innovation and collaboration. "We look forward to scaling up these efforts to meet Bangladesh’s NDC targets and beyond. We are eager to explore new avenues for cooperation. He said all the fields of cooperation will be included in the MoU," he said.

Later, the environment advisor held a meeting with the LDC chair on new collective quantified goals.​

 

[Saif]

Back to square one following futile excavation

Within just two years after excavation by Bangladesh Water Development Board, the Leinga canal at Chattogram's Karnaphuli upazila has been filled up once again.

www.thedailystar.net

Back to square one following futile excavation

Within just two years after excavation by Bangladesh Water Development Board, the Leinga canal at Chattogram's Karnaphuli upazila has been filled up once again.

Locals alleged that unplanned work by BWDB has caused around Tk 2 crore of public funds to go to waste in the excavation work.

Even a couple of decades ago, the 12-kilometre-long and 20-45 feet wide canal used to be a vibrant waterbody, with goods-laden boats navigating it. It drained rainwater to Karnaphuli river, and was also an important source of water for irrigation of croplands in adjoining areas, said Siddique Ahmed, 60, a local resident.

Over time, siltation as well as garbage dumped into the canal piled up in it, restricting its natural flow and leaving it on deathbed, causing severe waterlogging in areas along its both banks, especially in monsoon.

Local farmers were also affected as they were no longer getting adequate water from it for irrigation.

To restore its natural flow, the BWDB excavated a 9km stretch of the canal in 2021 under a project and completed the work in 2022.

However, heaps of the excavated earth and garbage were left on both sides of the canal after completion of the excavation work, which eventually got washed down to the canal again during rains, alleged locals and farmers.

"The canal's excavation did not benefit us the waterbody became refilled within a short time," said Ali Ahmed, a farmer from Charlakshya union under the upazila.

Visiting several points of the canal, this correspondent observed that it has shrunken and turned into a narrow ditch across much of its entire stretch.

Some agricultural lands adjacent to the canal were seen in a barren state due to the unavailability of irrigation water, while pollution has turned the canal's water black.

Lokman Hossain, a seasonal vegetable grower of Shikalbaha union, said they used to collect water from the canal during crop cultivation season.

"We no longer get water from the canal as it has become filled up again despite excavation," he added.

Contacted, BWDB officials, however, claimed that the canal got filled up naturally.

Borno Hoque, sub-divisional engineer of BWDB (Anwara sub-division), said, "Protection dams beside the canal could have prevented it from getting filled up so soon, but we had no funds for it at the time of excavation work."

"We will send a proposal for constructing protection dams beside the canal," the BWDB engineer added.​

 

[Saif]

Water crisis along the coast

SAFE drinking water insecurity is a global issue, particularly severe in Bangladesh’s coastal regions. Frequent cyclones, storm surges, breached embankments, coastal flooding, and rising salinity levels contribute to the contamination of both groundwater and surface water sources. According to...

www.newagebd.net

Water crisis along the coast
Sufiya Khatun and Mohibbullah 21 November, 2024, 00:00

The only rainwater reservoir serving the residents of this union. | Sufiya Khatun and Mohibbullah

SAFE drinking water insecurity is a global issue, particularly severe in Bangladesh’s coastal regions. Frequent cyclones, storm surges, breached embankments, coastal flooding, and rising salinity levels contribute to the contamination of both groundwater and surface water sources. According to the Bangladesh Environment and Development Society report, 73 per cent of coastal residents lack consistent access to safe drinking water due to rising salinity levels. This crisis becomes particularly severe during the dry season when water scarcity reaches its peak. Despite numerous initiatives aimed at addressing this crisis, millions of coastal residents continue to suffer from safe drinking water insecurity.

In early October, we visited Bagali union in Koyra Upazila, Khulna district, to listen to people’s struggles with water insecurity. One of them was Surma Roy (a pseudonym), a 42-year-old mother of three children. She walks five kilometres daily to a deep tubewell, the only functional source of safe drinking water in her area. It takes her four hours to collect two pitchers, each containing 15 to 20 litres, just enough to meet the daily needs of her five-member family. Surma’s story captures not only the hardships of coastal life but also emphasises the persistent barriers to achieving sustainable water solutions in regions like Koyra.

Reasons for failure: missteps and missed opportunities

OUR observations revealed a familiar list of water systems installed in these villages: solar-powered pond sand filters, traditional PSFs, hand-pumped tube wells, ultra-filtration units, desalination plants, and rooftop rainwater harvesting systems. While some systems worked, many were broken or barely functional. Of the 15 PSFs we saw, only two were in working order; the rest had succumbed to neglect or damage.

One of the clearest reasons for failure echoed across our conversations with locals is poor site selection. In some cases, decisions to build new water plants were not based on proper needs assessments but were influenced by personal connections, with water facilities sometimes set up in areas where people already had access to alternatives. This led to underutilisation of the newly installed facilities while other communities, desperate for safe drinking water, were left empty-handed.

Pricing policies have also posed a major barrier. While technologies like desalination plants and ultra-filtration units offer clean water, they come at a cost too high for most coastal families to bear. In contrast, rainwater harvesting reservoirs can be seasonally affordable, and solar-powered PSFs offer free water, with only community contributions required for maintenance costs. However, the lack of a unified pricing model has created a mismatch between cost and community needs, leaving some water facilities underused while villagers continue to rely on untreated, contaminated sources.

Almost every villager we met expressed frustration over the upkeep of water systems. From solar-powered PSFs to tube wells, the lack of clear maintenance responsibilities has led to frequent equipment breakdowns. In many cases, no sustainable maintenance plans were put in place, meaning there was no regular monitoring, and repairs were delayed or neglected. Surma, like many others, feels the bitter sting of unkept promises, watching as malfunctioning water sources remain unusable while her community waits for help that may never come.

Ironically, there’s no lack of financial support for these projects. International and local donors, including USAID, the Green Climate Fund, Akij Trust, and the Social Development Foundation, have poured resources into establishing these facilities. Yet, without sustainable funding models for ongoing repairs, this support is quickly exhausted, leaving communities with broken equipment and unmet needs. Water accessibility falls short when projects stop at installation, with no assurance of long-term reliability.

Throughout our field visit, we noticed another recurring issue: a sense of disconnection between the community and the water facilities they were supposed to rely on. Many residents, particularly women, told us they were not consulted about the location or type of water systems being installed. As a result, they often don’t feel ownership or have the knowledge to maintain these systems when they break down. Although solar-powered PSFs, for instance, have shown potential, manually operated PSFs often break down because local people lack the skills to repair them.

Future steps in building resilient water solutions

TO ENSURE that communities like Bagali Union can secure safe drinking water in the long term, a different approach is needed: one that recognises the lessons learnt from these missteps. First, local community involvement must be ensured in every project. Residents should be engaged in planning, implementation, and, most importantly, the maintenance of water systems. Involving communities fosters ownership and empowers locals to address technical problems as they arise.

Second, any effective water solution must be built to withstand the environmental conditions in coastal Bangladesh. Rainwater harvesting systems and solar-powered filtration units can be scaled in areas where traditional water sources fail. These solutions are simple yet powerful, as they align with local resources and skill levels.

Water financing models also need restructuring to ensure that these projects remain sustainable. Local governments, NGOs, and the private sector could collaborate to provide maintenance funds, community-managed accounts, or subsidies for low-income households. If support from international support could extend beyond initial installation, funding ongoing maintenance, coastal communities might finally experience a steady supply of safe water.

Lastly, water resource management must reflect the lives of those it intends to serve. Gender disparities, for example, place a disproportionate burden on women like Surma, who shoulder the responsibility of collecting water. Addressing the needs of all community members will ensure systems are inclusive and can support all residents equitably.

Despite years of water initiatives, the story in Bagali Union reveals that without local involvement, climate-resilient solutions, and sustainable funding, families continue to struggle. The vision of safe drinking water for all in coastal Bangladesh remains within reach if we can learn from past failures and commit to a holistic, community-centred approach.

Sufiya Khatun is pursuing her MSc in water resources development at the Institute of Water and Flood Management, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Mohibbullah is an environmental economist and is working at Innovision Consulting. Both are from the coastal town of Koyra.​

 

[Saif]

Rich nations urged to commit up to $900b at climate talks

Negotiators at deadlocked UN climate talks said Wednesday that rich countries have been urged to commit as much as $900 billion per year to help poorer nations take action against global warming...

www.newagebd.net

Rich nations urged to commit up to $900b at climate talks
Agence France-Presse . Baku, Azerbaijan 21 November, 2024, 00:16

Negotiators at deadlocked UN climate talks said Wednesday that rich countries have been urged to commit as much as $900 billion per year to help poorer nations take action against global warming.

With two days left at the COP29 conference in Azerbaijan, countries are scrambling to bridge their differences over money seen as crucial for the world to curb planet-heating emissions.

Developing nations, which are least responsible for global emissions, say rich historic polluters have a duty to help pay for their green transitions and the devastating impacts of climate change.

While developed nations have yet to put any figures on the table, some developing countries have called for $1.3 trillion in annual funds.

Rich countries, which are facing tighter budgets and political pressures back home, insist that any commitment must also include loans and private money.

They also want countries such as China and Saudi Arabia, which have become wealthy but are still listed as developing nations, to contribute to climate finance.

Australian climate minister Chris Bowen, one of two envoys mediating the finance negotiations, said three different figures were suggested for the money that would come from the budgets of developed nations: $440 billion, $600 billion and $900 billion.

‘Many parties told us they need to see certain building blocks in place before they can put forward their suggested number,’ Bowen told COP29 delegates.

Delegates from several countries told AFP the figures were not proposed by developed nations.

Bowen said some countries had drawn a ‘red line’ over the type of money, insisting it come ‘from a wide range of sources and instruments’.

Bolivia’s chief negotiator, Diego Pacheco, said there was a ‘steadily receding hope of getting an ambitious’ deal on climate finance.

‘We are also hearing in the corridors figures of 200 billion being offered by our partners’ on climate finance which would also include contributions from multilateral development banks, Pacheco said.

Buried in debt, developing nations insist that any deal should not include more loans.

‘Only 200 billion,’ he told the conference. ‘This is unfathomable, we cannot accept this.’

The lead negotiator of COP29 hosts Azerbaijan, Yalchin Rafiyev, urged countries to ‘pick up the pace’ of negotiations and said a new draft deal would be released at around midnight on Wednesday.

‘Let us embrace the spirit of collaboration, compromise and determination to ensure that we leave this conference with outcomes that make a real difference,’ he said.​

 

[Saif]

‘Shockingly insufficient’

"The proposed decision to allocate USD 250 billion per year for all developing countries is shockingly insufficient," said the adviser

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‘Shockingly insufficient’
Says Adviser Rizwana as COP29 draft deal proposes USD 250 billion a year for climate finance

Photo: AFP

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, today criticised the proposed $250 billion annual climate aid to poorer countries at the COP29 in Azerbaijan as "shockingly insufficient."

Wealthy nations today offered the money to help poorer nations hit hardest by global warming but faced immediate calls from several groups of nations to give more as UN climate negotiations extended into overtime.

She also expressed her profound disappointment with the latest text on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance, published by the COP29 presidency.

In her statement, she criticised the text as a "very disappointing package," noting its failure to meet the critical needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

"The proposed decision to allocate $250 billion per year for all developing countries is shockingly insufficient," she said, emphasising that the amount is neither provisioned nor designated as grants.

Furthermore, the text fails to allocate any dedicated funds to the most vulnerable 45 LDCs.

The adviser highlighted the inadequacy of the COP29 outcomes in addressing climate finance challenges, despite this conference being explicitly focused on the issue.

"The package has failed to provide the minimum required justification for an NCQG that should uplift the most vulnerable nations. It offers nothing concrete for LDCs and SIDS, leaving them exposed to escalating climate risks," she said.

Rizwana urged LDCs to resist this package, asserting that it "will make little difference in reality" without substantive revisions. She called on all stakeholders to advocate for a more ambitious, fair, and actionable climate finance framework that prioritises the needs of the world's most vulnerable communities.​

 

[Saif]

Climate finance: COP29 draft proposes $250b a year

COP29 draft deal says rich nations should pay the amount to fight climate change

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Climate finance: COP29 draft proposes $250b a year

Photo: AFP Activists hold a silent protest inside the COP29 venue to demand that rich nations provide climate finance to developing countries, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku on November 16, 2024.

A new draft deal at UN climate talks today proposes that rich nations commit $250 billion a year to help poorer nations combat global warming in an 11th-hour bid to break the deadlocked negotiations.

African countries and climate activists quickly denounced the figure as "unacceptable" and inadequate to meet the realities of a rapidly warming world, but wealthy nations including the United States have insisted that massive packages are not politically realistic.

With the gathering scheduled to end later today, delegates from nearly 200 nations had eagerly awaited COP29 hosts Azerbaijan's new proposal after two weeks of fraught bargaining.

The text sets an ambitious overall target to raise at least $1.3 trillion per year by 2035 from not only the public money but also the private sector.

It is the first time concrete numbers were formally proposed at talks dominated by divisions over how to increase assistance for developing nations to cut emissions and adapt to climate change.

Developing countries were seeking a significant boost in the existing pledge that commits rich nations to $100 billion a year in climate finance.

"The proposed target to mobilise $250 billion per year by 2035 is totally unacceptable and inadequate to delivering the Paris Agreement," said Ali Mohamed, chairman of the African Group of Negotiators.

He said it would "lead to unacceptable loss of life in Africa and around the world, and imperils the future of our world."

"The $250 billion target is not enough -- not big enough, not fast enough, not good enough," said Friederike Roder from activist group Global Citizen.

"Inadequate, divorced from the reality of climate impacts and outrageously below the needs of developing countries," said Jasper Inventor from Greenpeace.

But the US, which President-elect Donald Trump is expected to pull out of climate diplomacy, signalled it was not looking to negotiate a higher figure.

"It has been a significant lift over the past decade to meet the prior, smaller goal. $250 billion will require even more ambition and extraordinary reach," said a senior US official, whose team in Baku comes from outgoing President Joe Biden's administration.

COP29 host Azerbaijan said the $250 billion reflected the submissions made by rich nations during the negotiations.

Azerbaijan said it would keep working on "final adjustments" on outstanding issues.

An influential negotiation bloc of 134 developing nations including China had pushed for at least $500 billion from developed countries.

But major contributors such as the European Union have said that private-sector money inevitably must play a part.

The EU also wanted newly wealthy emerging economies like China, the world's largest emitter, to contribute to the overall goal.

Azerbaijan, an authoritarian state that relies on oil and gas exports, has been accused of lacking the experience and bandwidth to steer such large and complex negotiations.

"This is the worst COP in recent memory," Mohamed Adow, speaking for the Climate Action Network, said at a press conference before the text's release, adding that "no deal is better than a bad deal" for developing countries.

Sindra Sharma from the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, an activist coalition, expressed "a complete sense of frustration" at the talks.

"I've never seen a presidency like this, I've never seen a process like this," she said.

The EU had also called for stronger leadership from Azerbaijan, whose leader, Ilham Aliyev, opened the conference by railing against Western nations and hailing fossil fuels as a "gift of God".

Apart from splits over money, many nations fear the climate deal in negotiation does not reflect the urgency on phasing out coal, oil and gas -- the main drivers of global warming.

Last year's COP28 summit in Dubai made a landmark call on the world to transition away from fossil fuels after long negotiations in Dubai.

But a Saudi official speaking on behalf of the Arab Group said the bloc would "not accept any text that targets any specific sectors, including fossil fuel" in Baku.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock singled out Saudi Arabia as she said it was "essential" to keep last year's call on fossil fuels.

"Apparently some had a different goal here, and that is turning back the clock," she told reporters.

But European countries, like the US, have also seen a shift in political mood with a backlash against foreign aid and the green agenda.

The annual UN-led climate talks come on what is already poised to be the hottest year in history and as disasters rise around the world.

Just since the start of COP29 on November 11, deadly storms have battered the Philippines and Honduras, while Ecuador has declared a national emergency due to drought and forest fires and Spain has been reeling after historic floods.​

 

[Saif]

COP 29: BD seeks EU support for US$ 200b to LDCs

Bangladesh has urged the European Union (EU) to support a proposal for allocating US$ 200 billion to the least developed countries (LDCs) and the most climate-vulnerable countries so that these nations can effectively respond to the challenges of the climate crisis. Bangladesh made the call at a b

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

COP 29: BD seeks EU support for US$ 200b to LDCs
BSS
Published :
Nov 22, 2024 17:27
Updated :
Nov 22, 2024 17:27

Bangladesh has urged the European Union (EU) to support a proposal for allocating US$ 200 billion to the least developed countries (LDCs) and the most climate-vulnerable countries so that these nations can effectively respond to the challenges of the climate crisis.

Bangladesh made the call at a bilateral meeting held today between the ministers of LDCs and the EU on the final outcomes of COP-29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, according to a message received.

The meeting emphasised the need for collaboration on unresolved issues to achieve a balanced and equitable outcome for all parties.

In the meeting, the Bangladesh delegation highlighted that “many issues remain unresolved," urging both groups to work together to secure a meaningful and inclusive deal for COP29.

During the meeting, the LDC ministers shared their key positions, emphasising on urgent need for financial and technical support to address the adverse impacts of climate change.

The EU ministers acknowledged the concerns raised by the LDCs and reaffirmed their commitment to address climate vulnerabilities to foster sustainable development.

They discussed crucial progress in the negotiations, such as climate finance, adaptation, mitigation, and the global stocktaking process.

The meeting marked an essential step in ensuring that the voices of the most vulnerable countries are heard and acted upon in the final negotiations of COP-29.​

 

[Saif]

World approves $300 bn for poor nations in climate deal

Nearly 200 nations approved Sunday a climate deal that raises to at least $300 billion a year the amount wealthy historic polluters pay poorer countries to take action against global warming

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World approves $300 bn for poor nations in climate deal

COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev holds a hammer as he attends a plenary meeting, during the COP29 United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Baku, Azerbaijan November 24, 2024. Photo: Reuters/Maxim Shemetov

Countries agreed on Sunday to an annual finance target of $300 billion to help poorer countries deal with the impacts of climate change, with rich countries leading the payments, according to a hard fought deal clinched at the COP29 conference in Baku.

The new goal is intended to replace developed countries' previous commitment to provide $100 billion per year in climate finance for poorer nations by 2020. That goal was met two years late, in 2022, and expires in 2025.

Countries also agreed Saturday evening on rules for a global market to buy and sell carbon credits that proponents say could mobilise billions more dollars into new projects to help fight global warming, from reforestation to deployment of clean energy technologies.​

 

[Saif]

Poor nations stage walkout at cop29

The world’s most climate-imperilled nations stormed out of consultations in protest at the deadlocked UN COP29 conference yesterday, as simmering tensions over a hard-fought finance deal erupted into the open.

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Poor nations stage walkout at cop29
Small islands and least-developed nations say their climate finance interests were ignored

Photo: Reuters Activists hold a protest during the COP29 United Nations climate change conference, in Baku, Azerbaijan November 23, 2024.
​

• Chance of success at COP29 'iffy': EU climate chief​
• EU offers to raise rich countries' climate pledge to $300b​
• No climate deal better than 'bad' one: NGOs​

The world's most climate-imperilled nations stormed out of consultations in protest at the deadlocked UN COP29 conference yesterday, as simmering tensions over a hard-fought finance deal erupted into the open.

Diplomats from small island nations threatened by rising seas and impoverished African states angrily walked out of a meeting with summit hosts Azerbaijan over a final deal being thrashed out in a Baku sports stadium.

"We came here to this COP for a fair deal. We feel that we haven't been heard," said Cedric Schuster, the Samoan chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).

An unpublished version of the final text circulating in Baku, and seen by AFP, proposes that rich nations raise to $300 billion a year by 2035 their commitment to poorer countries to fight climate change.

It is up from $100 billion now provided by wealthy nations under a commitment set to expire.

COP29 hosts Azerbaijan intended to put a final draft before 198 nations for adoption or rejection on Saturday evening, a full day after the marathon summit officially ended.

Sierra Leone's climate minister Jiwoh Abdulai, whose country is among the world's poorest, said the draft was "effectively a suicide pact for the rest of the world".

In a statement, Schuster said AOSIS nd the group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have found themselves "continuously insulted by the lack of inclusion" at COP29.

Schuster said that without an inclusive process, "it becomes very difficult for us to continue our involvement here at COP29".

But negotiators from AOSIS, the LDCs and wealthy nations met later with the COP29 presidency.

"We're doing our utmost to build bridges with literally everyone," EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said in a statement.

"It is not easy," he said. "There is no alternative to do whatever we can."

An earlier offer from rich nations of $250 billion was slammed as offensively low by developing countries, which have demanded much higher sums to build resilience against climate change and cut emissions.

UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the revised offer of $300 billion was "a significant scaling up" of the existing pledge by developed nations, which also count the United States, EU and Japan among their ranks.

Harried diplomats ran to-and-fro in the stadium near the Caspian Sea searching for common ground.

"Hopefully this is the storm before the calm," said US climate envoy John Podesta in the corridors as somebody shouted "shame" in his direction.

Panama's negotiator, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, said delegates could not go home without a deal and repeat the failure of COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009.

"I'm sad, I'm tired, I'm disheartened, I'm hungry, I'm sleep-deprived, but there is a tiny ray of optimism within me because this cannot become a new Copenhagen," he told reporters.

Wealthy nations say it is politically unrealistic to expect more in direct government funding.

Donald Trump, a sceptic of both climate change and foreign assistance, returns to the White House in January and a number of other Western countries have seen right-wing backlashes against the green agenda.

The draft deal posits a larger overall target of $1.3 trillion per year to cope with rising temperatures and disasters, but most would come from private sources.

Ali Mohamed, the Kenyan chair of the African Group of Negotiators, told AFP: "No deal is better than a bad deal."

South African environment minister Dion George, however, said: "I think being ambitious at this point is not going to be very useful."

"What we are not up for is going backwards or standing still," he said. "We might as well just have stayed at home then."

A coalition of more than 300 activist groups accused historic polluters most responsible for climate change of skirting their obligation and urged developing nations to stand firm.

A group of developing countries had demanded at least $500 billion, with some saying that increases were less than met the eye due to inflation.

Experts commissioned by the United Nations to assess the needs of developing countries said $250 billion was "too low" and by 2035 rich nations should be providing at least $390 billion.

The US and EU have wanted newly wealthy emerging economies like China -- the world's largest emitter -- to chip in.

China, which remains classified as a developing nation under the UN framework, provides climate assistance but wants to keep doing so on its own voluntary terms.

The EU and other countries have also tussled with Saudi Arabia over including strong language on moving away from fossil fuels, which negotiators say the oil-producing country has resisted.

"We will not allow the most vulnerable, especially the small island states, to be ripped off by the new, few rich fossil fuel emitters," said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.​

 

[Saif]

Restore Leinga canal in Chattogram

What’s the point of excavating a canal if it gets filled up soon?

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Restore Leinga canal in Chattogram
What’s the point of excavating a canal if it gets filled up soon?

VISUAL: STAR

We are disappointed to learn about the fate of Leinga canal in Chattogram's Karnaphuli upazila, which has been filled up just two years after its excavation. Reportedly, the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) dredged a nine-kilometre stretch of the canal in 2021 under a project intended to restore its natural flow. However, upon completion in 2022, heaps of excavated earth and garbage were left piled along its banks. These were eventually washed back into the canal by rain, reducing it to a narrow ditch. It's baffling why the BWDB would leave excavated earth on the banks instead of disposing of it responsibly. Wasn't it part of the project to clear it as well? Such oversight from a state agency is simply unacceptable.

A few decades ago, this 12-kilometre-long and 20-45 foot-wide canal was the lifeline of the area. Farmers relied on it for irrigation, boats used it for transporting goods, and it acted as a natural drainage channel for rainwater into the Karnaphuli River. However, siltation and indiscriminate dumping of garbage gradually blocked its flow, causing severe waterlogging along its banks. The BWDB initiated the project to address this problem, but the canal became clogged again due to its mismanagement.

Unfortunately, this counterproductive practice of leaving excavated material after dredging canals and rivers on their banks is all too common across the country. In Dhaka, for instance, city corporations often leave canal and drain waste on the banks or roads. This defeats the very purpose of cleaning or excavation drives, resulting in further public suffering. Moreover, such unplanned work squanders public funds. In the case of Leinga canal, for instance, around Tk 2 crore was effectively wasted. This is unacceptable.

Over the decades, unplanned development projects have cost the nation thousands of crores, but to little avail. The situation was particularly bad during the 15-plus years Awami League rule when corruption and irregularities regularly drained resources meant for public interest projects. This must stop. We urge the interim government to ensure transparency and accountability in all such initiatives so that public money is no longer squandered due to the inefficiency or corruption of project authorities. The BWDB must answer for the failed Leinga canal excavation and take immediate steps to restore the flow of this water body.​

 

[Saif]

Developed nations are missing the bus

They must fulfil their obligations in combating climate change

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Developed nations are missing the bus
They must fulfil their obligations in combating climate change

We are disheartened by the outcome of the negotiations at the COP29 summit between developed and developing countries regarding the amount of money the former will pay the latter to tackle the devastating impacts of climate change. As we all know, developed countries are the biggest contributors to climate change, while developing nations bear the highest costs of its impacts. This is why developing nations have expressed their shock at the $250 billion per year fund proposed in a draft deal by the developed nations. It is a deliberate deviation from their commitment to the Paris Agreement.

Developing countries had called for $1.3 trillion to be mobilised annually by developed countries. The funds would be in the form of grants and would be disbursed starting next year. Another draft—the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG)—has also proven disappointing, as our adviser to the environment ministry has rightly pointed out. The adviser criticised the package for failing to meet the essential needs of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

It seems the developed nations have chosen to disregard the spirit of the Paris Agreement, which clearly states that developed countries are to provide financial resources to assist developing nations in their mitigation and adaptation efforts. It is also disconcerting that not all of these funds will be grants; some will come in the form of loans, which experts warn could increase the indebtedness of poorer nations already burdened by loans for their development needs. The latest text at COP29 has broadened the base of climate finance donors, meaning some developing countries may also have to contribute to the targeted $1.3 trillion per year by 2035.

These developments do not bode well for our future. The effects of climate change are becoming more severe and frequent each year, as manifested all over the world, but more profoundly in poorer nations. It makes little sense that developed nations have chosen to adopt an ostrich approach when it comes to adhering to their commitments. Contributing to climate funding is not a favour to developed nations—it is an obligation.

Experts have reiterated that we are still heading in the wrong direction, with greenhouse gas emissions increasing rather than decreasing. The goal of limiting the temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees Celsius is becoming more and more far-fetched. This places millions of people at risk of being displaced, suffering severe health problems, and experiencing adverse societal changes globally. Developed countries must realise that they are jeopardising the survival of humankind as a whole by not fulfilling their obligations to reduce the catastrophic impacts of climate change. It is in their own interest, as much as it is in that of the developing world.​

 

[Saif]

A village engulfed by pollution

Environmental pollution by industrial wastes continues unabated everywhere. Wherever we cast our eyes we encounter the same damaging process. Wastes discharged by a large number of industries in Gazipur, Narayanganj and other major industrial hubs continue to pollute land, air and water. And becaus

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

A village engulfed by pollution
Atiqul Kabir Tuhin
Published :
Nov 23, 2024 23:57
Updated :
Nov 23, 2024 23:57

Environmental pollution by industrial wastes continues unabated everywhere. Wherever we cast our eyes we encounter the same damaging process. Wastes discharged by a large number of industries in Gazipur, Narayanganj and other major industrial hubs continue to pollute land, air and water. And because of continuous failure of the authorities concerned to stop the damaging process, it has become an unalterable reality of life in Bangladesh, with seemingly none to protect helpless people from the myriad effects of environmental pollution.

A recent report published in a national daily highlights the severe consequences of environmental pollution in the village of Kewa Purba Khanda, Gazipur. The once calm and quiet daily life in the village is now severely disrupted by a growing environmental and health crisis. What was once a peaceful agricultural community with fertile land that produced crops in abundance has now been reduced to an infertile wasteland, plunging thousands of farmers into economic hardship. The leaves of trees are withering and dying, and the yield of various fruits, including jackfruit, has significantly declined. Even cattle are reportedly dying after grazing in the local meadows.

All these devastations are taking place because of the toxic smokes billowing from a factory named Daily Industrial Limited, commonly known as the "Lead Factory." Since its establishment in 2015, this factory has been processing lead from old batteries to manufacture new ones.

Perhaps the most alarming aspect of the crisis unfolding in the village is the suffering of the children. Reports indicate that children are experiencing severe respiratory diseases caused by the toxic fumes emitted from the factory's furnace. Students at the nearby Kewa Purba Khanda Government Primary School complain of difficulty breathing, burning eyes, and dizziness during class. It is unimaginable that children should be subjected to such conditions, where the very air they breathe is poisoning them.

The people in the locality have repeatedly complained about the factory to the local administration, and even organised protest rallies and human chains demanding closure of the factory. In the face of public outcry, the factory has been sealed off twice by the police, but each time, it was reopened under mysterious circumstances. It gives rise to many unsavoury questions. Why have the authorities allowed this hazardous factory to continue operation, putting lives, livelihoods, ecology, and biodiversity in jeopardy?

Actually, failure of the authorities in enforcing environmental and industrial laws and protecting ecology and environment is an old story. And this disturbing scenario is not unique to Gazipuir. Almost each and every industrial unit - be it tannery, garment, dyeimg-chemical or pharmaceutical-is spewing enormous quantities of untreated toxic wastes into the environment and causing irreparable damage. The department of environment and government agencies concerned claim to have directed industries to set up effluent treatment plants but to no avail as most of the industry owners did not feel it necessary to pay heed to the weak and lukewarm appeal of the authorities. The grave environmental reality in Kewa Purba Khanda and its detrimental impact on the lives and livelihoods of the local people should persuade authorities concerned to take the issue seriously and act.​

 

[Saif]

Main points of the $300bn climate deal

The deal reached at UN climate talks in Azerbaijan ramps up the money that wealthy historic emitters will provide to help poorer nations transition to cleaner energy and adapt to global warming. Here are the main points of the agreement reached at COP29 in Baku:

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Main points of the $300bn climate deal

The deal reached at UN climate talks in Azerbaijan ramps up the money that wealthy historic emitters will provide to help poorer nations transition to cleaner energy and adapt to global warming. Here are the main points of the agreement reached at COP29 in Baku:

$300 BILLION

Under a framework established by the UN in 1992, 23 developed countries -- and the European Union -- historically responsible for most planet-heating emissions are obliged to contribute to climate finance.

The Baku accord raises the amount of money that developed countries must provide to at least $300 billion per year by 2035. It is higher than the $100 billion that is currently required under a previous agreement that runs until next year.

But it falls well short of the $500 billion that some developing countries had demanded at the fraught negotiations in Baku.

The deal states that the money will come directly from a "wide variety of sources" including government budgets, private sector investment, and other financing.

CHINA ROLE

The United States and EU had pushed to broaden the donor base to include countries that are still listed as developing but have now become wealthy, such as China and Saudi Arabia.

But China, the world's second-biggest economy and top emitter of greenhouse gases, has steadfastly refused to change its status while recalling that it already provides bilateral aid.

SHARE OF MONEY

The negotiations were also the scene of disagreements within the developing world.

The Least Developed Countries bloc had asked that it receive $220 billion per year, while the Alliance of Small Island States wanted $39 billion -- demands that were opposed by other developing nations. The figures did not appear in the final deal. Instead, it calls for tripling other public funds they receive by 2030.

FOSSIL FALLOUT

Activists are worried that the promise to "transition away" from fossil fuels -- the main achievement of COP28 in Dubai -- disappeared from the final deal in Baku.

A text that was supposed to reinforce implementation of the landmark agreement was ultimately not adopted at the close of COP29, after a long battle that had already largely emptied it of its substance.​

 

[Saif]

Adaptation to combat climate change

COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, brought the world’s attention once again to strategies to address the climate crisis. While reducing emissions (mitigation) remains essential, it has become increasingly clear that even with significant global efforts, the consequences of climate change are here to...

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Adaptation to combat climate change
Musharraf Tansen 25 November, 2024, 00:00

An aerial photograph shows flooded houses in Feni in August. | Agence France-Presse/Munir uz Zaman

COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, brought the world’s attention once again to strategies to address the climate crisis. While reducing emissions (mitigation) remains essential, it has become increasingly clear that even with significant global efforts, the consequences of climate change are here to stay. Rising sea levels, erratic weather patterns, and increasing natural disasters are now a reality, especially for climate-vulnerable nations like Bangladesh. This year’s discussions at COP29 underscore the importance of adaptation as an urgent, essential counterpart to mitigation. Bangladesh stands as a prime example of a country that must invest in adaptation to safeguard its communities, economy, and ecosystems.

Understanding adaptation

ADAPTATION in the context of climate action refers to adjusting our systems, infrastructure, and ways of life to endure and thrive amid climate impacts. While mitigation aims to reduce future risks by lowering greenhouse gases, adaptation accepts that certain consequences are already irreversible and require immediate action. Bangladesh, with its low-lying geography and high population density, is uniquely vulnerable to these impacts. Rising sea levels threaten to inundate vast areas of the country, cyclones regularly devastate coastal communities, and changing rainfall patterns disrupt agriculture. Adaptation, therefore, is not a secondary solution for Bangladesh; it is an existential necessity.

The 2020 Global Adaptation Report suggests that every dollar invested in adaptation could yield a fourfold return in avoided losses, improved productivity, and social and environmental benefits. For Bangladesh, this means that adaptation efforts are not just protective measures but pathways to sustainable development that could lift millions out of poverty and build resilience against future climate impacts.

Urgent need for adaptation in Bangladesh

BANGLADESH’S vulnerability to climate change is no longer theoretical. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world could surpass the critical 1.5°C warming threshold within the next decade if the current pace of emissions continues. For Bangladesh, which is ranked among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, this reality translates into immediate challenges. Rising sea levels threaten to displace millions, with coastal divisions like Khulna and Barisal already experiencing increased flooding. Riverine communities are at constant risk of erosion, and droughts and erratic monsoon patterns put agricultural productivity in jeopardy.

The agricultural sector, on which a significant portion of Bangladesh’s population depends, is particularly affected by unpredictable weather patterns and extreme temperatures. With over 70 per cent of Bangladeshis relying on agriculture for their livelihoods, adapting farming practices is crucial to ensure food security. Climate-resilient crop varieties, improved irrigation systems, and agroforestry are among the adaptation strategies that could help protect Bangladeshi farmers from these growing threats.

Key adaptation strategies for Bangladesh

Climate-resilient infrastructure: Infrastructure that can withstand climate impacts is urgently needed across Bangladesh, especially in urban areas like Dhaka, Chattogram, and Khulna. Flood defences, storm-resistant homes, and drainage systems are essential in areas prone to flooding and cyclones. Bangladesh has already taken steps to develop flood-resistant infrastructure, but the scale and intensity of climate impacts demand even more robust planning and investment.

Enhanced water management: Bangladesh’s water challenges are multifaceted — coastal regions face saltwater intrusion from rising seas, while northern regions suffer from droughts. Rainwater harvesting, desalination, and improved water storage systems are critical for areas where fresh water is becoming scarce. By strengthening water management practices, Bangladesh can mitigate some of the worst impacts of climate change on water resources.

Resilient agriculture and food security: The adaptation of agriculture is essential for Bangladesh to feed its population in the face of climate change. Drought-tolerant and salt-resistant crop varieties are being introduced, but more support for climate-smart agriculture is necessary to ensure that small-scale farmers can maintain productivity even as conditions worsen. Additionally, initiatives to promote crop diversification and sustainable land management can help farmers reduce their vulnerability to climate-induced shocks.

Ecosystem restoration and protection: Natural ecosystems, including the Sunderbans mangrove forest, serve as crucial buffers against climate impacts such as storm surges and floods. The Sunderbans, shared with India, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to unique biodiversity, including the endangered Bengal tiger. Protecting and restoring ecosystems like the Sundarbans can provide significant climate resilience, as these natural barriers absorb floodwaters, prevent erosion, and act as carbon sinks.

Locally-led adaptation initiatives: Locally-led adaptation is essential in a diverse country like Bangladesh, where local knowledge can guide effective climate responses. Bangladesh’s coastal communities, for instance, have long relied on traditional knowledge to predict and respond to changes in weather patterns. By empowering communities to take an active role in climate adaptation — through education, skills training, and local governance — Bangladesh can tailor solutions to the unique challenges faced by different regions.

Financing adaptation

DESPITE the clear need for adaptation, financing remains a significant barrier. While international climate finance has historically prioritised mitigation, adaptation in vulnerable countries like Bangladesh continues to face severe funding gaps. COP29 discussions underscored the need for a fairer distribution of climate finance, with developed countries committing to greater support for adaptation in developing nations. In recent years, Bangladesh has advocated strongly for increased climate finance to support its adaptation efforts, yet the scale of funding remains insufficient given the risks the country faces.

The government of Bangladesh has made significant strides, such as setting up the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund to support adaptation and resilience-building projects. However, private sector involvement is essential to bridge the financing gap. Partnerships with businesses and international organisations can drive investment into adaptation projects, from green bonds to public-private ventures in sustainable infrastructure. Additionally, the insurance sector can offer climate risk insurance tailored to the needs of farmers and small businesses, providing a financial safety net that incentivises adaptive practices.

Adaptation and sustainable development

FOR Bangladesh, adaptation is more than just a response to climate threats; it is an opportunity to pursue sustainable development. Many adaptation strategies align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, including those related to poverty alleviation, food security, and clean water access. By investing in adaptation, Bangladesh can build a resilient society capable of withstanding environmental changes while simultaneously fostering economic and social growth.

For instance, green urban planning in cities like Dhaka, which integrates green spaces and sustainable transport, not only mitigates heatwaves and flooding but also reduces pollution, improves public health, and enhances overall quality of life. Adaptation offers co-benefits that go beyond climate resilience, setting the foundation for an inclusive and sustainable future for Bangladesh.

Global solidarity and responsibility

COP29 has reinforced that adaptation is not just a national issue for Bangladesh but a global necessity. Wealthier nations bear a responsibility to support countries like Bangladesh in building adaptive capacity. Investing in climate adaptation is not just the right thing to do but is also the economically smart thing to do. Wealthier nations must uphold their responsibility to support climate-vulnerable countries by delivering on pledges for adaptation finance. Adaptation, beyond merely building resilience, is essential for securing lives, food supplies, and stability amid a rapidly changing climate. Wealthy countries must share technology, mobilise financial resources, and transfer expertise to help vulnerable nations develop climate-resilient infrastructure and strategies. In addition, we should demand more direct funding for local adaptation initiatives, where climate impacts are most severely felt.

Moreover, the private sector, government agencies, NGOs, and local communities must collaborate to scale up adaptation efforts and ensure that no one is left behind. The climate crisis transcends borders; heatwaves, floods, and droughts in one region have global ripple effects on food security, migration, and health. Only by embracing adaptation as a universal priority can the world hope to navigate the climate challenges that lie ahead.

Balanced climate agenda for Bangladesh

THE realities of climate change demand that Bangladesh approach adaptation and mitigation hand in hand. While reducing emissions remains critical, preparing Bangladeshi communities to handle the impacts already underway is equally vital. COP discussions have highlighted that adaptation is not a fallback option but a cornerstone of a comprehensive climate response.

In a world where climate impacts are increasingly immediate, adaptation offers Bangladesh a path towards resilience, stability, and equity. Bangladesh has a unique opportunity to champion adaptation as a key component of climate action — one that protects its people, preserves its natural resources, and paves the way for a sustainable future for generations to come.

Musharraf Tansen is a development analyst and former Bangladesh representative of Malala Fund.​

 

[Saif]

Innovative tool for climate finance: the case of blended finance

Climate change is the most widely discussed topic at the moment. An overwhelming majority of people around the world are concerned about climate change. Given the critical situation of climate change for humanity, UN experts called on States at the 29th meeting of the Conference of the P

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Innovative tool for climate finance: the case of blended finance
Mohammad Abu Yusuf
Published :
Nov 25, 2024 23:51
Updated :
Nov 26, 2024 00:06

Climate change is the most widely discussed topic at the moment. An overwhelming majority of people around the world are concerned about climate change. Given the critical situation of climate change for humanity, UN experts called on States at the 29th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, to prioritise the protection of human rights with truly ambitious climate action plan to 2030, and agree to sufficient, transparent and legitimate funding. The slow onset events of climate change such as sea level rise, increased temperature and extreme events exemplified by more frequent and intense drought, severe heat waves, more severe storms, increased precipitation, and flash flood result in related losses and damages to nature and people. Other consequences of rising global temperatures include massive crop and fishery collapse, and the disappearance of hundreds of thousands of species. Climate induced displacement and relocation/migration of people emerged as a havoc for the affected people. More than 20 million people a year are forced to leave their homes by climate change.

The adverse impacts of the climate change can be addressed to some extent through different adaptation measures. Implementation of these measures need significant financial resources to adapt to the adverse effects and reduce the same. The United Nations Environment Programme estimates that adapting to climate change and coping with damages will cost developing countries $140-300 billion per year by 2030. Climate finance is also needed for mitigation. The Adaptation Gap Report 2023 estimates that due to growing adaptation finance needs and limited flows, globally the current finance gap is around US$194-366 billion per year for adaptation only. The sources of climate finance are mainly budgetary allocations of the states, international climate funds, multilateral development banks (MDBs), bilateral funds, and philanthropic organisations. However, these sources are not enough to fund the huge climate finance need for Bangladesh

As the 7th most climate change vulnerable country according to the Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2021, Bangladesh has a considerable need for climate finance. The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2022 of Bangladesh estimates it will need around $230 billion for the period 2023-2050 (which is about US$ 8 billion per year) as new and additional financing requirements for the implementation of the NAP. The country currently spends $1.2 billion annually. Bangladesh thus faces a $7.3 billion climate adaptation funding gap annually. The actual financing gap would be higher if the financing needs to implement the committed reduction of GHG emission made in the Bangladesh’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 2021 are taken into account. The full implementation of the proposed mitigation actions identified in the NDCs will require about USD 175 billion within 2030. Only a small part of the total estimated climate finance need could be filled in from budgetary allocations. Climate finance flows from international climate funds, MDBs, bilateral and philanthropic sources to Bangladesh are also very meagre. As for instance, Bangladesh has received US$ 174 million in grants and US$ 290 million in loans from GCF for implementing 8 projects till date. In addition, so far, Bangladesh has received US$ 34.41 million from the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF).

Although Bangladesh is one of the least emitters of GHG (0.47 per cent of total global emission), it is serious victim of climate change. Since Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, and has capacity constraints as a least developed country, it can rightfully demand grant-based resources for adaptation from global sources as per Article 9.4 of the Paris Agreement. The reality is— Bangladesh has to accept loan with grants money for climate cause.

The large climate financing gap and the limited capacity of the public sector as stated earlier calls for leveraging private capital in the climate change space. But bringing in private climate finance is not simple, as private sector will be looking for bankable projects where they can earn financial returns. The private investors also have a perception of high risks in emerging markets that discourage them to invest. Climate Adaptation projects, in particular, are not considered bankable as these projects do not generate returns for private financiers for the risks they involve. Development of innovative financing tools such as blended finance can be a tool to encourage private investment. Blended Finance as a term was launched in 2017 at the Adis Ababa Innovative Finance Summit.

Blended finance, by combining public, private, grants, concessional and philanthropic finances to mobilise larger sums of capital, de-risks investments in climate projects and thus support generate more climate finance. Public institutions, multilateral development banks, climate funds, philanthropies and other organisations without profit motive can de-risk private investment by assuming first-mover and longer-term risks. Development financial institutions (DFIs) and MDBs, by providing grants, first take losses to leverage private finance. They also provide capital at concessional rates to reduce risks for private providers. As for instance, the World Bank signed $46m agreement with the Uzbekistan government to motivate energy efficiency. Under the project, the bank will purchase between 2 and 2.5 million tons of CO2 reductions. Institutional investors could also be a more relied-upon source of debt capital to climate blended finance. The UNCTAD notes that bringing institutional investors into project finance can lower debt spreads by about 8%, almost as much as securing a DFI/MDB.

A number of blended finance instruments can be leveraged to generate climate finance from private sources. These instruments include catalytic first-loss capital (CFLC) such as equity, grants, guarantees and subordinated debt. It is catalytic because, by improving the recipient’s (investors who receive protection from other investors) risk-return profile, CFLC catalyses the participation of investors that otherwise would not have participated.

For blended finance to be able to raise meaningful amount of private capital, first-loss-equity is a vital option. It gives comfort to investors in emerging markets as first-loss concept de-risks investment in early-stage companies. The investor/grant-maker, in this case agrees to take first-loss or subordinated position in an investment in order to catalyse the participation of co-investors that otherwise would not have entered the deal.

Blended finance structure the financial instruments such as grants, guarantees, debt and equity in innovative ways to reduce risk, advance social and environmental objectives thus catalyse private/commercial capital for climate or impact investment. The following example illustrates how blended financing instrument (in this case CFLC) uses innovative financial structure to increase private sector (commercial) appetite for climate cause or impact investment.

Example: An impact fund of Tk. 132.5 million was created by a composition of debt and grants. The debt structure in the fund has three layers: Tk 100 million in senior debt, contributed by private capital investors (five banks and an insurance company); Tk. 25 million in subordinated debt, provided by five mission-driven investors; and Tk. 7.5 million in first-loss capital (this is ‘loan loss reserve’) in the form of grants from three foundations (providers). This reserve serves as a first stop-loss for any individual transaction. If there is a loan default, the loss reserve absorbs the full loss related to the loan.

Each loan made from the credit facility is composed of 75 per cent from the senior tranche and 25 per cent from the subordinated tranche. In the event of a loss, the CFLC fund can be accessed only to make the senior investors whole (no amount for the junior lenders). In theory, if there is a large loss in one transaction, then the full Tk. 7.5 million can be drawn down in one instance. Alternatively, it could cover numerous small losses until the full amount of CFLC (i.e., Tk. 7.5 million) is exhausted. Losses exceeding the $7.5 million loan loss reserve would be absorbed by the subordinate investors. In this case, it is evident that there is a mechanism of first-loss capital (created out of ‘grant’ money) that acts as a cushion for private sectors to come forward to put their money into such innovative arrangement of blended finance. The significance of blended finance had been recognised in COP 29: “Blended finance is key to mobilising private capital for climate-related projects. It reduces investment risks, attracts new technologies, and ultimately speeds up the shift to a green economy. The issuance of UniBank’s first green bonds in Baku is a compelling example of this trend…”

Attracting funds from both the global climate funds and the private sector are critical in closing the adaptation finance gap. An appreciative mindset that cares for humanity, planet, and sustainability will surely promote blended finance concept to mitigate risks by the public sector or impact investors in a way that allows the private capital to make impact investment for climate cause.

Mohammad Abu Yusuf is an Additional Secretary in the Finance Division, Ministry of Finance, Government of Bangladesh.​

 

[Saif]

The unresolved question of 'non-economic’ loss and damage

Exploring the intersection of climate change and non-economic loss and damage.

www.thedailystar.net

The unresolved question of 'non-economic’ loss and damage

Can prehistoric sites like the Gobustan State Historical and Cultural Reserve in Baku, Azerbaijan survive climate change? PHOTO: PAVEL PARTHA

Some 64 kilometres southwest of Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, is the Gobustan State Historical and Cultural Reserve. After the first week of the Baku Climate Conference, the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP), we had the opportunity to visit these relics of our ancestors.

As I observed the stone-carved cavities in Gobustan, I wondered what Stone Age humans might have stored in them—perhaps meat, fruits, herbs, or seeds.

Cooking rice was not yet part of civilisation, as rice had not been discovered; only later domesticated by Homo sapiens. Over time, wild rice was tamed, but the "Green Revolution project" transformed agriculture into a profit-driven industry, eradicating the diversity of traditional rice and other crop genetic resources.

In parallel, the discourse on climate change adaptation and payment for loss and damage is growing, with the Global South advocating for an Adaptation Fund and a Loss and Damage (L&D) Fund. Yet, L&D negotiations largely focus on economic losses, leaving non-economic loss and damage underrepresented in the global climate negotiations.

On our way back from Gobustan, I wondered: could we ever put a price tag on these priceless remnants? If these artefacts were to be lost to a volcanic eruption or another climate-induced disaster, the losses would fall under what we describe as the category of non-economic loss and damage in climate discourse.

The Baku Climate Conference, dubbed the "Finance COP," focused more on promoting carbon credits and false solutions than addressing people-led adaptation and loss and damage. The unresolved, irreversible impacts of climate change continue to grow. Disasters like cyclones, droughts, floods, and heatwaves not only cause economic losses but also destroy traditional knowledge, rituals and even rare species. Can humanity survive without these non-economic, intangible cultural heritages? Acknowledging and incorporating these losses into global climate action is not just necessary—it's urgent for conserving the essence of human existence.

The issue of "Loss and Damage" due to climate change gained prominence through small island nations (Small Island Developing States/SIDS and Alliance of Small Island States/AOSIS) initially focusing on economic impacts. However, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) shifted the discussion towards non-economic loss and damage (NELD), a concept often overlooked. Based on the UNFCCC's report (2013) on Non-economic losses in the context of the work programme on loss and damage' refers to losses not traded in markets—loss of life, health, human mobility, loss of territory, cultural heritage, Indigenous local knowledge and social capital, biodiversity and ecosystem service. Measuring these losses is challenging as they lack a market value, yet they are integral to human civilisation.

Following the Paris Agreement, a 2019 report identified key sectors for assessing NELD, and the "Santiago Network" was established to support developing nations. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report included NELD examples, such as loss of life and ecosystems. NELD's scope varies across different cultures, ecosystems, and communities, shaped by diverse social, cultural, and historical contexts. This article presents examples of NELD caused by climatic stress from various eco-regions of global countries including Bangladesh to illustrate the broader concept.

Lost rain, lost rituals

The Huni Kui people, who reside in the Brazilian and Peruvian parts of the Amazon, believe that after death, humans are reborn as trees in the forest, according to Ninawa Inu Huni Kui, leader of the Huni Kui. To them, every plant and tree is sacred. The Mukaya (shamans or healers) venture deep into the forest to collect flowers, leaves, and roots used in herbal medicine and various rituals.

Due to irregular rainfall and rising temperatures, many plants are going to be extinct in the Amazon. Ninawa's account parallels the experiences of the Indigenous Tripura community in Bangladesh's Rema-Kalenga forest. The Tripura believe the KuthuiRuganiKhlum plant guides dead's souls to heaven, but prolonged droughts have made this sacred plant harder to find.

In the Bengali Hindu tradition, 108 lotus flowers are essential for Sharadiya Durga Puja. From 2022 to 2024, excessive rainfall during the flowering season destroyed many blooms in wetlands. While some devotees managed to acquire lotus flowers at high prices, a very few could gather the full 108 required for rituals.

New diseases, new concerns

Climate change is also linked to diseases like dengue, chikungunya, cholera, and malaria, which bring new challenges and fears. Caroline Naeku Lemachakoti, an Indigenous activist from the Samburu community in Nigari village of Kenya, reported that prolonged droughts are increasing the spread of a camel disease called Nadopapita.

Meanwhile, Shahin Alam, a youth climate activist from Bangladesh's Sundarbans, highlighted that intrusion of salinity is causing complex reproductive health issues among women in coastal villages. Irregular rainfall and rising temperatures are also damaging betel leaf plantations in the Khasi Indigenous community of Sylhet in Bangladesh, leading to a rise in the Uttram disease of betel leaf garden.

Erosion of genetic resources and biodiversity

In Sherpur of Bangladesh, the floods during August-September this year, submerged rice fields, including those growing the indigenous Tulshimala variety, a crop with Geographical Indication (GI) status. Rukasen Beypi, a climate activist from India's Assam, highlighted a similar plight among the Karbi Indigenous people, whose traditional crops are rapidly vanishing. Droughts have made finding two wild banana varieties, Lorup and Lochin, increasingly difficult.

Bolivian food rights activist Aira Roja Condori, who also participated in last year's climate summit in Dubai, recalled the loss of wild potato varieties due to droughts and water scarcity—a grim story she reiterated this year. Meanwhile, U Khing Nu Chak, a youth climate activist from the Indigenous Chak community of Naikhongchhari in Bangladesh's Bandarban, shared her Grandmother Janingme Chak's memories of colourful maize varieties that once flourished in their mountain villages. These varieties are now disappearing, driven by drought, water shortages, and rising temperatures. Leodegario Velayo and Rowena Buena the farmer-scientists from Philippines told that, they are trying to conserve the traditional climate resilient varieties.

Alien territories, new conflicts

Cyclones, floods, droughts, and rising temperatures are increasingly displacing both humans and wildlife, forcing migration in Bangladesh's Satkhira and Netrokona regions. Young people, particularly women, are seeking jobs outside their villages due to the loss of agricultural land and employment opportunities. Unlike cultural migration, this displacement forces people to leave behind everything they've known: villages, ancestral graves, temples, and communities.

Makereta Waqavonovono from Fiji shared how frequent tidal surges displace her community, a situation mirrored by those affected by riverbank erosion in Bangladesh's Meghna, Jamuna, and Brahmaputra basins. Women and children, as highlighted by Chathurika Sewwandi of Sri Lanka's Vikalpani National Women's Federation, face increased violence and insecurity in these situations. The emotional toll of leaving one's birthplace is immense, and adapting to new settlements often leads to social, cultural, and environmental conflicts.

Indigenous knowledge, beliefs and new doubts

The devastating floods in Sunamganj and Sylhet in Bangladesh in 2022 not only led to loss of life and property but also wiped out many Dhamail songs, a cultural heritage of the Haor region. Women in these areas have their Dhamail songs written in songbooks, which were submerged and lost in the floods. Thus, climate change is causing the daily disappearance of numerous songs, languages, Indigenous knowledge, and cultural expressions around the world. Traditional practices related to weaving, agriculture, local adaptations, rural architecture, culinary arts, herbal medicine, and disaster management are all critically endangered due to climate change.

In the hills of Bandarban, only six speakers of the Rengmitcha language remain. The scarcity of water and land crisis is exacerbating the survival challenge of Indigenous communities. When the last speaker of the Sare language from India's Andaman-Nicobar Islands passed away during the first wave of the Covid pandemic, the language went extinct.

Stephanie Stephens, a representative from Vanuatu's Ministry of Climate Change, explained that as coastal villages are submerged by tidal surges, people are being forced to move to mountain areas. In these new regions, the medicinal plants they once relied on are no longer available, leading to the erosion of indigenous knowledge about herbs and healing.

Non-economic loss and damage, human rights, and political commitments

While Bangladesh has made strides in disaster management and adaptation, it has yet to fully address NELD. There is an urgent need for policies and management frameworks in this area. Although Bangladesh presented a national L&D assessment framework at the Baku Conference, NELD must be explicitly integrated. This requires the consent of all regions and communities, along with coordinated research on the impacts of NELD on ecosystems and people.

In climate finance negotiations, countries must include NELD in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan (NBSAP) to ensure that NELD are addressed in both national and international climate policies. After undue delays and false oaths, the global leaders at the Baku conference agreed to climate finance $300 billion per year. Strong commitment and concrete climate actions are now needed to address the global NELD.

Pavel Partha, an ecology and biodiversity conservation researcher, is director at Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK).​

 

[Saif]

Efficient management and recycling of textile waste

The challenge of managing textile waste has long been a pressing issue, both from an environmental and socio-economic perspective. In Bangladesh, the handling of textile waste, locally known as jhut, remains largely informal and disorganised. This unregulated approach has created a hydra-headed pro

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Efficient management and recycling of textile waste
Wasi Ahmed
Published :
Nov 27, 2024 00:48
Updated :
Nov 27, 2024 00:48

The challenge of managing textile waste has long been a pressing issue, both from an environmental and socio-economic perspective. In Bangladesh, the handling of textile waste, locally known as jhut, remains largely informal and disorganised. This unregulated approach has created a hydra-headed problem over the years, posing significant environmental, social, and economic risks. The informal nature of the jhut trade not only hampers sustainable practices but has also led to frequent conflict and clashes between stakeholders, disrupting the country's Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector. The economic and political nexus has its internecine feuds, and despite efforts to remove tension, there has not been any sign of relief, so far. Clearly, it is the absence of formalising the business that mainly accounts for the conflict and wrangling.

A recent discussion meeting in Dhaka brought renewed attention to the importance of formalising Bangladesh's textile waste management system. Organised under the "SWITCH to Circular Economy Value Chains" project-co-funded by the European Union (EU) and the Finnish government and led by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)-the event emphasised aligning the country's waste management practices with the EU's sustainable product regulations.

Experts at the event highlighted that transitioning to a circular economy is not just about environmental responsibility but also an opportunity to create millions of jobs in recycling and reducing the country's dependence on raw material imports. A formal policy framework for jhut management could address the unrest in the RMG sector by fostering better coordination among stakeholders, manufacturers, waste management companies, and global brands.

As the second-largest garment exporter globally, Bangladesh faces an enormous challenge in managing its growing textile waste. Much of this waste is either incinerated or dumped in landfills, causing significant environmental harm. These practices result in wasted resources, pollution, and a missed opportunity to harness the economic value of textile waste through recycling and upcycling. Experts argue that a comprehensive recycling system could reduce environmental degradation while contributing to the country's economy. Turning waste into reusable materials can drive sustainability and promote a circular approach within the textile industry.

The circular approach offers a promising solution by closing the loops in the production process. This involves transforming waste into resources for future manufacturing. With proper infrastructure for waste collection, sorting, and advanced recycling technologies, Bangladesh can lower its environmental footprint and foster growth in green industries. Investing in recycling technology and infrastructure could also position Bangladesh as a leader in textile recycling. Collaboration among the government, manufacturers, and waste processors is essential to create a robust ecosystem for sustainable production and waste management.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh, Bernd Spanier, underscored the urgency of transitioning to circular production. He noted that the next five years are critical for Bangladesh's garment industry to meet the EU's emerging standards under its Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. This framework aims to ensure that textiles entering the EU market by 2030 are made from recycled fibers, free of hazardous substances, and produced in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. He also highlighted gaps in Bangladesh's current policies, such as the National Environmental Policy, Solid Waste Management Rules, and the Bangladesh Labour Act, which are not fully aligned with international standards for circular textile manufacturing. Without supportive policies, countries like Vietnam and Indonesia are emerging as preferred destinations for recycling industries.

Formalising the textile waste management system could unlock substantial economic benefits. According to experts, this transition could help Bangladesh remain competitive in the global garment market, especially as international buyers increasingly prioritise sustainability. Furthermore, recycling and waste management offer an avenue for economic diversification. By investing in circularity, the country can develop a thriving recycling industry that generates value from waste while mitigating its environmental impact.​