Environment
Trade union leaders, economists for social, environmental compliance programmes in tannery industries
Trade union leaders and economists on Thursday (December 29, 2022) urged the tannery owners to implement social and environmental compliances for the welfare of the industry and the workers.
They said the European Union (EU) and the US are not buying leather from Bangladesh as most of the tanneries are yet to obtain certificates from Leather Working Group, an organisation of foreign leather buyers, for which the prices of leather are decreasing day by day.
The trade body leaders were speaking at the programme Dissemination workshop on "institutional policy framework in the Tannery Workers Union" in a capital hotel Thursday.
Read more: Tannery workers demand environment-friendly industry
To obtain the certificates, the tanneries will have to implement social and environmental compliance programmes, the speakers at the programme said.
Only so far three tanneries have got the certificates, they added. "And buyers of the EU and the US are buying leather from them."
Social compliance relates to the health, safety and rights of the workers; environmental compliance means conforming to environmental laws, regulations and standards.
Read more: Tanners demand 50-bed hospital in Savar tannery hub for workers’ treatment
Professor MM Akash, chairman of the economics department of Dhaka University, spoke as the chief guest of the programme.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra Wahedul Islam Khan, President of Workers Resource Centre Anwar Hossain; President of Tannery Workers Union Abul Kalam Azad and General Secretary Abdul Malek also spoke.
32nd meeting of JS committee on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Affairs held
The 32nd meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Affairs Ministry was held at the Sangsad Bhaban on Thursday.
With the committee’s President Saber Hossain Chowdhury in the chair, Minister for the concerned ministry Md Shahabuddin and Deputy Minister Habibun Nahar, among others, were present at the meeting.
Several issues including expectations and reality from the COP-27 conference, list of owners of hotels, motels, and resorts developed in Saint Martin Island and fix actions regarding the issue, recruitment, promotion, allegation on posting of Directorate of Forest, and System of Environment Accounting (SEEA) including Blue Economy and Poverty Environment Nexus were discussed at the meeting.
The committee recommended the ministry present the names of owners who illegally developed hotels, motels and resorts on Saint Martin Island and visit the spot in person.
Apart from this, instructions were given to take measures to build a mangrove forest in Chakaria upazila of Cox’s Bazar and send a letter to the Khulna deputy commissioner to hand over Sheikh Russell Eco-park to the Forest department.
The committee asked the ministry to take initiative to elect a co-chairman from Bangladesh for the next UN-led climate change summit, COP-28, and carry out publicity campaign in this connection.
A recommendation was also made to assist the statistics and information management division in providing information and data for the overall cooperation of the SEEA project.
Read more: Bangladesh's role in COP27 negotiations highlighted
Policy, climate, war make 2022 'pivot year' for clean energy
For renewable energy companies in India, it's a good time to be in business.
One of India’s largest renewable energy firms, Renew Power, will be among the corporations big and small hoping for a piece of a $2.6 billion government scheme that encourages the domestic manufacturing of components required to produce solar energy. It's the biggest such incentive in India's history.
Renew Power's CEO Sumant Sinha said the government funds for clean energy send “a strong signal” that the country wants “to become a manufacturing location for renewable energy equipment and a global alternative to China eventually.”
“We are excited to be a part of this journey,” he said.
The company has over 100 clean energy projects across India and has become the world’s tenth largest solar and wind energy company in just over a decade.
Other major governments around the world have been green lighting ambitious renewable energy policies this past year that aim for major expansions of wind and solar energies, along with development of technologies like carbon capture, which captures carbon dioxide, a central cause of climate change, and stores it in the ground. Some of the policies also include tax credits to buy electric vehicles, heat pumps or energy efficient materials for construction.
Read more: Every dollar invested in climate adaptation brings a much higher return on investment: GCA CEO
The United States signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act, the most ambitious climate legislation in U.S. history, the European parliament passed the REPower EU plan to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast forward the transition to clean energy and China announced ambitious schemes to enable the country to meet its 2030 clean energy goals five years ahead of schedule.
Experts say the task is now to build on this momentum in 2023, strengthen energy grid infrastructure and resolve backend issues which slow down the distribution and transmission of clean energy.
“From an energy perspective, 2022 will go down as a pivot year. For the first time, we have discernible proof that fossil fuel demand after 200 years of growth had reached a peak in 2019 and we are now bumping along a plateau before an inevitable decline,” said Kingsmill Bond, an energy strategist at the Rocky Mountain Institute, a clean energy non-profit group.
RMI’s research has found that global energy demand grew by around six additional exajoules in 2022 — enough energy for around 6 million transatlantic flights. This is less than usual year-on-year growth as energy use is getting more efficient, the report said. Solar and wind supply growth this year was also calculated to be about six exajoules.
Bond added that the price of clean energy was getting closer to that of fossil fuels and in some cases it was cheaper.
A report by the International Energy Agency said that oil prices rose well above $100 per barrel in mid-2022 and high gas and coal prices accounted for electricity cost hikes around the world. But increased use of clean energy saved Asian countries, including China and India, a total of $34 billion in the past year, a separate report found.
Read more: New abnormal: Climate disaster damage ‘down’ to $268 billion
Energy analysts say that the global energy crisis triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and increasing climate threats such as the disastrous floods in Pakistan have accelerated the clean energy policies and big tickets investments that are needed to transition to renewable energy, especially wind and solar energy, around the world.
The sudden lack of access to fossil fuels and supply chain crunches were also other key reasons for the aggressive tilt towards cleaner energy. For example, Russia’s sale of gas to Europe was reduced to a trickle.
The invasion “had the effect of making it apparent that clean energy is the solution," said Lauri Myllyvirta, a lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
Despite the positive momentum towards clean energy, there were some pitfalls too.
“Knee jerk reactions saw some places shift back to fossil fuels even if its at a higher price to the taxpayer,” said Vibhuti Garg, a New Delhi-based energy economist at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.
India's coal production increased by about 17% from April to November 2022. Bangladesh increased its imports of natural gas and went ahead with opening thermal powerplants in the country. Germany, a strong advocate of clean energy, turned to coal and oil to address its short term power needs.
“It was a good year for renewable energy but sadly, not a bad year for fossil fuels either,” Garg added.
Read more: In new role as G-20 chair, India set to focus on climate
But spurred by momentum from previous years the clean energy sector worldwide nevertheless took off this year.
“You know, 20 years ago, renewables became the cleanest forms of energy and then in the last few years, renewables become the cheapest form of energy," said Dave Jones, an energy analyst at London-based environmental think-tank, Ember. “Only this year, they’ve become the most secure form of energy."
Another report by the IEA said that developments in 2022 triggered unprecedented momentum behind renewables, with the world set to add as much renewable power in the next five years as it did in the past 20.
“There is still a lot that needs to be done but I think 2022 will be remembered as the year in which for the first time, renewables have ticked all the boxes,” Jones said.
There's acknowledgement from those in the sector that more work needs to be done to overcome the scale of the transition.
Sinha of Renew Power hopes that government policies in 2023 focus on dealing with the bottlenecks that prevent clean energy growth.
“Currently the power sector is designed around fossil fuels and suddenly you have all this clean energy coming into the grid," said Sinha.
"We need more proactive policies that find ways to make room for renewables.”
Environment of Cox’s Bazar at stake: Out of over 500, only 4 hotels have own STP
Although there are more than 500 hotels, motels, and other residential establishments in Cox’s Bazar, only four of these have their own Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP), which is turning the tourist city into an open gutter.
According to Abu Sufian, an Additional District Magistrate who is also the In-charge of the district administration’s tourist cell, only three five-star and one three-star hotels in Cox’s Bazar have STP systems.
“There are eight more luxurious hotels which don’t have STP. We’ve told the star-labeled hotels to establish their own STP and have decided to bring the existing hotels under a centralized STP system,” Sufian said.
Saiful Islam, Assistant Director of Department of Environment in Cox’s Bazar, said that the government has asked more than 300 hotels to set up STP system regardless of the fact that most of these hotels don’t have space for STP.
Read more: JS body suggests stern action to prevent illegal sand extraction in Cox's Bazar
“Most of the hotels adjacent to the beach have been constructed without following environmental laws, and bad smell coming out of the excrement released from these hotels is resulting in the loss of tourists. That’s why the district administration in association with Cox’s Bazar Development Authority, Cox’s Bazar municipality and Department of Environment have jointly agreed to establish a central STP system,” Saiful said.
Mohammad Junaid, General Secretary of Cox’s Bazar Forest and Environment Protection Council, said that the government should ensure that any new infrastructure in Cox’s Bazar is set up after receiving clearance from the environment department.
AQI: Dhaka ranks as most polluted city again
There is no respite for Dhaka dwellers from unhealthy air as it again ranked worst among cities in the world on the Air Quality Index (AQI) on Sunday morning (December 18, 2022).
It had a score of 308 at 9 am. The air was classified as ‘hazardous’ and in this condition, everyone may experience more serious health effects.
When the AQI value is more than 300, people are advised to avoid all outdoor exertion.
Read more: Air Quality Index: Dhaka ranks 2nd worst
Pakistan’s Lahore and India’s Delhi occupied the second and third spots in the list, with AQI scores of 278 and 257, respectively.
Similarly, an AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups while a reading of 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor'.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Read more: Dhaka's air quality is 'unhealthy'
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Read More: Dhaka's air 2nd most polluted in the world this morning
500 tonnes of toxic pesticide DDT removed from Chattogram after 37 years
What is thought to be the world's largest remaining stockpile of banned pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), left in Chattogram city for 37 years, has finally been removed.
DDT is toxic to humans and other organisms. It harms fertility and reproductive processes, disrupts hormonal systems, and is a probable carcinogen. As a persistent organic pollutant (POP), it accumulates in the bodies of humans and animals, as well as the wider environment.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supported the government to dispose of the DDT safely and clean up the storage site in a complex international operation.
The final batch of repackaged DDT will be loaded onto a ship later this week and then the entire consignment will set sail for France where the waste will be incinerated at a specialist facility, the FAO said Wednesday.
France is one of only a handful of countries that can dispose of DDT safely and also allows the import of hazardous waste from other countries.
Bangladesh imported 500 tonnes (500,000kg) of the pesticide in 1985 to control malaria-carrying mosquitos but the consignment was deemed technically non-compliant. Upon arrival, it was put into a government compound, the medical sub-depot of the Directorate General of Health Services in Agrabad.
Over the years, many of the boxes and bags disintegrated leaving exposed piles of the white DDT powder. In 1991 Bangladesh imposed a DDT ban but the huge consignment remained.
FAO consultant Mark Davis, an expert on obsolete pesticides, said: "This is the largest amount of the pesticide removed from a single location that I'm aware of. It's also highly unusual in that it was stored in the middle of a city and because it was there for so long."
Since DDT does not break down, the consignment has the same concentration of active ingredients today as it did when it was manufactured.
Due to the urban location, special precautions were taken to ensure that the DDT removal operation did not create dust. The buildings were sealed and operated under negative air pressure to ensure that everything stayed inside.
Read more: EU Commission proposes cutting pesticides by half by 2030
Mark, who oversaw the operation, stressed the high safety standards of the removal and clean-up. "This is a large quantity of a dangerous substance stored in an urban environment. Our operation applied all necessary measures to ensure that nobody was exposed and that none of the chemicals spread into the environment. The safety standards applied were the same as they would have been in Europe."
Under the supervision of FAO experts and government officials, a specialist company based in Greece took four months to complete the repacking of the DDT at the site. In the hot and humid conditions, trained workers wearing full hazardous material protective suits worked alongside specialist machinery.
Netherlands, IOM join hands to improve environment, strengthen resilience of Rohingyas, host communities in Cox’s Bazar
The Netherlands will provide USD 7.5 million to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for a project aims to provide multi-sectoral support assistance for the Rohingya refugees and the host communities in Cox’s Bazar.
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dhaka and the IOM have signed an agreement for the implementation of ‘Restoring the Environment and Strengthening Resilience of Rohingya Refugees and Host Communities in Cox’s Bazar’ project.
An Exchange of Notes was signed by Chargé d’Affaires Thijs Woudstra, Deputy Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, and Fathima Nusrath Ghazzali, Officer in Charge of IOM Bangladesh at the IOM Office in Dhaka on Monday.
Cox’s Bazar District, currently hosting nearly one million Rohingya refugees since 2017, is prone to natural disasters and climate change impacts. Refugees and host communities are vulnerable to landslides and floods, particularly during cyclones which can occur annually.
Read more: IOM unveils first 12 of 100 under-construction community clinics in Cox’s Bazar
The temporary and often weak shelter structures in which the refugees live further exacerbate not only the vulnerability of the refugees to natural disasters but also psychosocial stress.
For this reason, the project seeks to integrate mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) into the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) activities.
This integrated approach adopted by the Netherlands and IOM aims to build resilient communities and reduce negative mental health and psychosocial outcomes, and to increase the community’s capacity in DRR prevention and preparedness as well as their resilience to hazardous events.
It is envisioned that 196,463 people from refugee and host communities will benefit from the project, receiving assistance through the continued operation and maintenance of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, environmental rehabilitation activities and MHPSS (psychiatric consultations, counseling, case management).
Some 18,000 beneficiaries will receive lay-counseling by trained community volunteers.
At least 200 volunteers will be trained on Psychological First Aid (PFA), lay counseling, stress management and other MHPSS-related and residence-oriented topics.
At least 18 community support groups will be established, involving 180 community members.
The project will also benefit at least 30,000 refugee families (approximately 150,000 people) living in the Balukhali landslide and flood-prone areas (inside the camps) and 3,000 families from the Bangladeshi host communities (approximately 16,410 people) living in the area outside the refugee camps.
Read more: Bangladesh can’t & shouldn’t bear Rohingyas’ responsibility alone: IOM
“The Rohingya live in congested camps with limited opportunities and complex challenges. Host communities also face issues that increase their vulnerability, including strained resources, limited market access, limited employment opportunities, insufficient infrastructure, and recurring environmental shocks," said Ghazzali,
"With support from the Netherlands, IOM will provide life-saving support to Rohingya refugees and host communities, contributing to improved social harmony and human security. This will include providing essential services focusing on camp life; mental health; disaster risk reduction, and water, sanitation & hygiene,” she added.
Chargé d’Affaires Thijs Woudstra expressed hope that the support from the Government of the Netherlands will help to improve the living conditions of both Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi communities and mitigate disaster risks.
“We particularly value the innovative angle this project takes in integrating MHPSS in DRR. Increasing community resilience and preparing the community to adequately respond to disasters is key to ensure a sustainable reduction of disaster risks for refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar.” the Deputy Ambassador said.
The project will be implemented in coordination with the government of Bangladesh and other relevant stakeholders.
CEC appreciates environment of local govt polls
Chief Election Commissioner ( CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said election environment in hundreds of local government elections should be maintained in the future as the Commission has not seen violence, vote rigging or received any complaints.
"This is a good sign. If it can be maintained, it will work in the future. Now there is a voting environment. That is our purpose," he said.
He was talking during a briefing on the monitoring of local government polls in different areas from the Election Commission headquarters.
The CEC said that they have not seen violence, vote rigging or received any complaint while monitoring four municipalities from here.
CCTV cameras were used only in four municipalities for monitoring from the headquarters.
These are: Fatikcchari Municipality of Fatikcchari Upazila of Chattogram, Hazrabari Municipality of Hazrabari Upazila of Jamalpur, Parvatipur Municipality of Parvatipur Upazila of Dinajpur and Vishwanath Municipality of Vishwanath Upazila of Sylhet.
Read more: No decision taken yet over suspended Gaibandha -5 polls: CEC
He also said that many people stood in line and voted in an orderly manner.
“It seems to me that the voters have exercised their rights with restraint and patience,” he said.
He informed that the Commission will also monitor the Faridpur-2 seat polls to be held on November 5.
The Election Commission conducted polls on Wednesday in local government bodies to elect representatives in upazilas, municipalities and union parishads across the country.
Voting started at 8 am and continued till 4 pm.
EC also conducted voting in three upazilas - Karnaphuli of Chattogram, Jagannathpur of Sunamganj and Osmaninagar of Sylhet. Besides, by-election was being held for the posts of chairman of Netrakona Sadar, Roumari and Chilmari of Kurigram and Khoksa upazila of Kushtia.
The by-election to Khoksa Upazila Parishad of Kushtia started amid clashes between supporters of the rival candidates.
As soon as voting started at 8 am, fight broke out at Kadirpur Government Primary School voting centre between supporters of the Awami League-backed candidate Babul Akhter and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) leader Motahar Hossain Khokon.
Read more: Deal with any intimidation in next polls, CEC asks DCs, SPs
The EC took votes in many Union Parishads (UP). The UPs are Baratara and Tulsi Ganga in Khototal Upazila of Joypurhat; Ziarthi and Kanchanpur of Kushtia Sadar, Chithlia and Dhubail of Mirpur; Adra and Phulmocha of Melandah in Jamalpur Upazila; Raipara, Mahmudpur and Sutarpara of Dohar Upazila of Dhaka; Perli and Panchgram of Kalia Upazila of Narail; West Jaflong, Goainghat, East Jaflong and Madhya Jaflong of Goainghat Upazila of Sylhet; Kharera of Kasba upazila of Brahmanbaria and Durlabpur of Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj.
The EC also conducted by-elections for a total of 60 member posts under 58 Union Parishads in 52 upazilas of 36 districts.
Double agricultural production by 2030 to ease climate change impacts, says Environment Minister
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin said on Monday that the challenge of growing demands for food in the country must be dealt with by doubling the agricultural productions by 2030 to combat the adverse effects of climate change.
The Minister made the comment at a discussion organised by the Ministry of Agriculture to mark the World Food Day 2022 at the city's Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
He said that to double the agricultural production, climate tolerant crops are needed by introducing new varieties, expanding modern farming methods and ensuring the use of environment-friendly agricultural inputs.
He said research on agricultural products processing, value chain development should also be given importance.
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The minister said that the market for exports of agricultural products should be searched abroad after meeting domestic needs and GAP rules should be followed during the production of agricultural products for exports as per the demand.
Read: Govt committed to protect ozone layer: Environment Minister
Good Agricultural Practices, or GAP, is a voluntary certification program, which verifies through an audit that ensures food safety practices are being used. This helps reduce the risk of microbial contamination in fruits, vegetables and nuts and aims to make sure these foods are safe for eating.
Shahab Uddin said that Bangladesh has achieved sufficiency in food grains, but now special attention needs to be given to achieve self-sufficiency in nutrition.
Keeping market prices within the purchasing power of the people, fair market management, balanced distribution and nutritional awareness are also needed, he said.
By developing sustainable agricultural practices, Bangladesh is implementing sustainable development goals, he said adding that such practices are crucial to tackling the impacts of climate change.
“Put People Over Profit”: Bangladeshi youths join Global Climate Strike
Global Climate Strike 2022 was observed in Bangladesh with hundreds of young people turning out in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka today.
ActionAid Bangladesh, with 72 countries, organized the Climate Strike in collaboration with Fridays for Future and youth groups.
The goal of the climate strike is to urge all nations to act immediately in support of climate justice — by sending a loud, yet nonviolent statement, according to a press release.
Read: PM to focus on peace & climate change in her UNGA speech: Momen
The youngsters demanded that the government declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ and that world leaders prioritize ‘people not profit’.