Environment
129 countries to see increased droughts within next few decades
Within the next few decades, 129 countries will experience an increase in droughts – 23 primarily due to population growth and 38 because of their interaction between climate change and population growth, according to a recent UN report.
And should global warming reach 3℃ by 2100, drought losses could be five times higher than they are today, with the largest increase in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic regions of Europe.
Droughts have deep, widespread and underestimated impacts on societies, ecosystems, and economies, having impacted some 1.4 billion people between 2000 and 2019, said the UN.
Meanwhile, in 2022, more than 2.3 billion people are facing water stress and almost 160 million children are exposed to severe and prolonged droughts, it added.
Read: Israeli police beat mourners at journalist’s funeral
Humanity is "at a crossroads" when it comes to managing drought and accelerating ways of slowing it down must happen "urgently, using every tool we can," said the head of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Thursday.
Through its newly published Drought in Numbers report, released in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, during the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15), UNCCD's compendium of drought-related information and data is helping inform negotiations for the outcomes of the conference when it closes on May 20.
UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw said the "facts and figures of this publication all point in the same direction: An upward trajectory in the duration of droughts and the severity of impacts, not only affecting human societies but also the ecological systems upon which the survival of all life depends, including that of our species."
The report reveals that from 1970 to 2019, weather, climate and water hazards accounted for 50 percent of disasters and 45 percent of disaster-related deaths, mostly in developing countries.
While droughts represented 15 percent of natural disasters, they accounted for approximately 650,000 deaths throughout that period.
And from 1998 to 2017, droughts triggered global economic losses of roughly $124 billion – a number and duration of which have risen 29 percent since 2000.
Only to flooding, droughts inflict the greatest suffering on women and girls in developing countries, in terms of education, nutrition, health, sanitation, and safety.
"Drought in Numbers" paints a grim picture surrounding ecosystems as well, noting that the percentage of plants affected by drought has more than doubled in the last 40 years – with about 12 million hectares of land lost each year to drought and desertification.
In the past century, more than 10 million people died due to major drought events, which also generated several hundred billion dollars in economic losses worldwide. And the numbers are rising.
While severe drought affects Africa more than any other continent – accounting for 44 percent of the global total – over the past century, 45 major drought events have also affected millions of people in Europe – affecting an average of 15 percent of that continent's land and 17 percent of its population.
Read: 16 die in Delhi building fire
In the US, drought-induced crop failures and other economic losses have totalled $249 billion since 1980 alone, and over the past century, Asia was the continent with the highest total number of humans affected by drought.
"One of the best, most comprehensive solutions is land restoration, which addresses many of the underlying factors of degraded water cycles and the loss of soil fertility," said Ibrahim.
"We must build and rebuild our landscapes better, mimicking nature wherever possible and creating functional ecological systems."
Beyond restoration, there needs to be a paradigm shift from "reactive" and "crisis-based" approaches to "proactive" and "risk-based" drought management approaches involving coordination, communication and cooperation, driven by sufficient finance and political will, he added.
Sustainable and efficient agricultural management techniques are needed to grow more food on less land and with less water, and humans must change their relationships with food, fodder and fibre – moving towards plant-based diets and stemming the consumption of animals, according to the report.
Early-warning systems that work across boundaries, new technologies to guide decisions with precision and sustainable funding to improve drought resilience at the local level are also key actions.
End/UNB/MA
Arabian Corporation fined Tk 10 lakh for cutting hills in Chattogram
The Department of Environment (DoE) has fined Arabian Corporation Tk10 lakh for cutting 20,000 cubic feet of a hill at GEC in Khulshi area of Chattogram city.
Nurullah Nuri, director of DoE Chattogram office, imposed the fine after a hearing at the office on Sunday.
Read: Eviction begins on Chattogram hills to save lives during landslides
He said that the inspection team of the DoE found evidence of cutting 20,000 cubic feet of a hill visiting GEC area on December 17.
Arabian Corporation owner Md Nur Islam and his wife Amena Begum were fined Tk 10 lakh for causing damage to the environment by cutting hill. The couple was present during the hearing session.
DoE received Tk 5 lakh of the fine during the session while the court ordered the owner of Arabian Corporation to pay the remaining money by Monday.
15 apparel manufacturers get Green Factory Award
Thirty institutions, including 15 garment factories, have received Green Factory Award 2020 for their contribution to saving the environment and creating employment.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined the award-giving ceremony virtually as the chief guest. State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian handed over the awards on behalf of the PM in the capital Wednesday.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment launched the "Green Factory Award 2020" this year to encourage local industries to invest in green measures.
Read Grameenphone observes Green Week 2022
The award-winning institutions include 15 factories from the garment industry, three institutions from the food processing, four from tea, two from leather, three from the plastic and three others from the pharmaceutical sectors.
The garment factories which received the award are Remi Holdings Limited, Tarasima Apparels Limited, Plummy Fashions Limited, Mithela Textile Industries Limited, Vintage Denim Studio Limited, AR Jeans Producer Limited, Karooni Knit Composite Limited, Designer Fashion Limited, Kenpark Bangladesh Apparel Private Limited (Kenpark Unit 2), Green Textile Limited (Unit 3), Four H Dyeing and Printing Limited, Wisdom Attires Limited, Mahmuda Attires Limited, Snowtex Outerwear Limited and Auko-Tex Limited.
Bangladesh has 152 green garment buildings certified as "Leadership in Environmental and Energy in Design (LEED)" by the US Green Building Council.
Read Bangladesh, Denmark sign document to strengthen partnership on green transition
Among them 44 factories are platinum rated while 94 are gold rated, 10 are silver. 500 more factories are in the process of achieving LEED certification.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan congratulated the factories on winning the award and expressed appreciation for their efforts to cut carbon emissions and global warming and their commitment to a healthy and sustainable future.
He urged the government to honour all green garment factories in Bangladesh with awards to recognise their contributions to protecting the environment.
Read Huawei to enrich digital solutions to empower APAC's green development
Bangladesh joins pledge to end deforestation by 2030
Bangladesh has signed the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use in the COP26, pledging to end and reverse deforestation by 2030.
Mostafa Kamal, a member of the Bangladesh delegation and secretary of the ministry of environment, forests and climate change, confirmed this to UNB.
Mostafa said that NDC had uploaded a letter of consent from Bangladesh on the website of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) on August 26 stating its commitment to forest protection, afforestation, and forest expansion by 2030. However, as it was not uploaded timely, it was reported that Bangladesh is not with the global initiative of ending deforestation process- which was inaccurate.
Also read: COP26: Bangladesh announces 37bn-dollar budget to tackle climate change damages
The secretary added that Bangladesh has reached an agreement in this regard. “As other countries have reached a consensus, Bangladesh has also expressed solidarity with this consensus. But because of the system error, the name of Bangladesh was not in the first list on the UNFCC web site.
Later on Sunday, the name of Bangladesh was added and published. In this way, the names of more countries can be added and the list can be published in stages, the secretary said.
He said that Bangladesh is ahead of many other countries in the world in protecting forest lands.
And the consensus target is to protect existing forest lands in their respective countries by 2030 as well as create new forests.
He added that not only the protection of natural forests, but also the proposal to increase green coverage in the cities to address the climate change has been proposed at the conference.
Another member of Bangladesh delegation Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hossain told UNB that a master plan has been taken to increase forest cover from 16 per cent to 20 per cent and afforestation from 22 per cent to 25 per cent by 2030. At the same time, local people are being worked together to protect the forest and create new forests.
"We are constantly protecting the forest," he said. On the contrary, the number of forests in different areas is increasing.
Amir said that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-15) also speak of sustainable management of forests, prevention of deforestation, restoration of forests and conservation of biodiversity.
For this, Bangladesh has taken various steps to conserve forests and forest resources. Article 18 (A) of the Constitution of the country states the specific constitutional obligation to provide for the protection and security of the state's environment and natural resources, biodiversity, forests, forests and wildlife.
Also read: Leaders vow to protect forests, plug methane leaks at COP26
Moreover, the Social Forestry Rules formulated in 2004 and the latest 'National Forest Policy 2016' emphasize on forest conservation and expansion of forest areas, wildlife management and tackling the effects of climate change on the ecosystem.
Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, another Bangladeshi delegate, said that the importance of forest protection has been highlighted in the constitution of the country. In that light, the government has specific policies.
To this end, Bangladesh also expressed solidarity with the unity of all in protecting the forest.
At the COP26 Conference, 134 countries, including Bangladesh, came together to protect the world's forests and protect the world's forests from adverse effects of climate change.
Govt finalizes the "Dolphin Conservation Action Plan"
The government has approved the "Dolphin Conservation Action Plan” to protect the habitat of dolphins, said Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin.
The plan was approved at a meeting of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change chaired by the minister on Tuesday.
In addition to the "Dolphin Conservation Action Plan", "Fund Management Guidelines", "Dolphin Atlas in Bangladesh" and "Management Plan for the Ganges River Dolphin in Halda River" have also been approved subject to some amendments.
Also read: Govt 'working hard' to save dolphins
Speaking on the occasion, the environment minister said that the "Dolphin Conservation Action Plan" would play an effective role in reducing the decline in the number of dolphins in rivers and coastal areas and in protecting the habitat of dolphins.
"Dolphin Atlas in Bangladesh" will help people to know the whereabouts of Gangetic and Irrawaddy dolphins in the winter.
The Minister said that in addition to protecting dolphins and their habitats, the "Management Plan for the Ganges River Dolphins in Halda River" would also serve as a guide for the authorities in dolphin conservation.
The "Fund Management Guidelines" have been formulated so that the Dolphin Conservation Team can make proper use of the funds provided by the government and carry out dolphin conservation activities for a long time.
Also read: Three more dolphin carcasses found off Chattogram coast
Deputy Minister of Environment and Forests Begum Habibun Nahar, Secretary of the ministry Md Mostafa Kamal were among those present.
Right to healthy environment: States urged to take bold actions
United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet Friday called on states to take bold actions to give prompt and real effect to the right to a healthy environment, following a UN Human Rights Council's landmark decision.
The Human Rights Council recognised for the first time that having a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is indeed a human right, in its resolution 48/13.
The Council called on states to work together, and with other partners, to implement this newly recognised right.
At the same time, through a second resolution (48/14), the Council also increased its focus on the human rights impacts of climate change by establishing a Special Rapporteur dedicated specifically to the issue.
"The Human Rights Council's decisive action in recognising the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is about protecting people and the planet – the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat. It is also about protecting the natural systems which are basic preconditions to the lives and livelihoods of all people, wherever they live," the High Commissioner said.
Read: Mohib's killing, Rohingya repatriation: Bachelet for redoubling global pressure on Myanmar
"Having long called for such a step, I am gratified that the Council's action today recognises environmental degradation and climate change as interconnected human rights crises."
"Bold action is now required to ensure this resolution on the right to a healthy environment serves as a springboard to push for transformative economic, social and environmental policies that will protect people and nature," she added.
At the beginning of the current session of the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner described the triple planetary threats of climate change, pollution and nature loss as the single greatest human rights challenge of our era.
The resolution on a healthy environment acknowledges the damage inflicted by climate change and environmental destruction on millions of people across the world.
It also underlines that the most vulnerable segments of the population are more acutely impacted.
The issue will now pass on to the UN General Assembly for further consideration.
Bachelet paid tribute to the efforts of a diverse array of civil society organisations, including youth groups, national human rights institutions, indigenous peoples' organisations, businesses and many others worldwide who have been advocating for full international recognition of this right.
Read: Action must be taken now over Rohingyas' rights violations: Bachelet
She stressed the importance that the rights to participation, access to information and access to justice are also respected for the human right to a healthy environment to be fully realised.
Noting that an unprecedented number of environmental human rights defenders were reported killed last year, the High Commissioner urged states to take firm measures to protect and empower them.
"We must build on this momentum to move beyond the false separation of environmental action and protection of human rights. It is all too clear that neither goal can be achieved without the other, and to that end, a balanced, human rights-based approach to sustainable development must be ensured," she said.
Bangladesh: On the frontline of a planet in peril
Nowhere is the climate crisis more pressing or more potentially catastrophic than Bangladesh, for the simple fact that nowhere else do we see a greater swathe of humanity under threat from its worst effects.
According to the Environmental Justice Foundation, by 2050, with a projected 50 cm rise in sea level, Bangladesh may lose approximately 11% of its land, affecting an estimated 15 million people living in its low-lying coastal region.
It isn’t something the country brought upon itself. As a late comer to industrialisation, the country’s contribution to anthropogenic climate change, for which the Industrial Revolution that started in 19th-century Britain was a catalyst, has actually been minimal.
That is why as the current chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, a group of 48 countries that are most disproportionately affected by the consequences of global warming, it is working hard for a fair and equitable deal to be reached at the next UN-led conference on the issue (COP26), set to be held in Glasgow in December.
Experts have long bemoaned the fact that the wealthier, industrialised countries – the ones who have historically contributed the most to the depletion of the ozone layer – still put up a reluctant front when it comes to taking responsibility now for addressing the problem.
“Bangladesh has been hit hard with extreme weather caused by climate change for years. Climate change is a global phenomenon that needs a global solution through collective efforts,” noted climate expert Dr Ainun Nishat on the occasion of World News Day.
Dr Nishat said they have been talking about climate finance for several decades for combating climate change impacts, but sufficient funds have not been allocated globally.
“It’s necessary to sensitise global leaders regarding climate financing and keep their commitment to reducing carbon emission. The upcoming COP-26 Summit will create an opportunity to do this,” he said.
World News Day is being observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere across the world today (Tuesday), highlighting the critical importance of credible journalism in providing trustworthy information about the climate crisis.
Environment experts said about 700,000 people in Bangladesh become refugees every year due to the natural disasters which are said to be intensifying with climate change.
They point out that per capita carbon dioxide (CO2) emission in Bangladesh is 0.46 tonne per year while it is about 10 to 15 tonnes per year in the developed countries.
Alongside reducing carbon emissions, the analysts said developed nations must help Bangladesh with mitigation and adaptation efforts, necessary funds, resources and technology to prepare it for the inevitable losses of lives, livelihoods, habitable land, and the resulting human migration.
Read: Dickson lauds Bangladesh's efforts on climate front
Six factories fined Tk 2.10 crore for polluting environment
The Department of Environment (DoE) on Tuesday slapped a fine of Tk 2.10 crore on six factories for harming the environment in the city.
As part of the drive against the environment pollution, DoE Director (Monitoring and Enforcement) Mohammad Masud Hasan Patwary slapped the penalty following hearings of the charges.
READ: Aedes Larvae: Bombay Sweets among 23 buildings fined
The highest fine of Tk 1,90,27,200 crore was slapped on Rafique Textile Dying and Printing Workshop, while Tk 17,63,200 on Maya Textile and Printing Industries, and Tk 1,43,770 on Pailuck Chemical Company.
READ: Lockdown Day 3: Banks reopen, 587 arrested, Tk 12.7 lakh fined
Besides, Mozammel Rubber was fined Tk 20,000, Yasin Furniture Tk 13,890 and Monir Furniture Tk 13,890, said a DoE release.
High levels of toxic chemical found in machine-delivered receipts: ESDO report
A high level of toxic chemical has been found in the cash receipts that customers get through machines at payment counters of restaurants, super shops and ATM booths, according to a study report released on Thursday.
Bisphenol A affects not only the humans but environment, animals and plants as well, said the study by Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) in its new research report on "BPA in Receipt: Toxin in Finger" in a virtual event.
The report said BPA, initially created as an estrogen supplement, has been linked to development problems in infants and children, and cancer, obesity, diabetes and heart disease in adults.
Researchers said that BPA is broadly used as a plasticizer that is bound in polymers to make plastic bottles and food can liners and on thermal imaging paper used to print credit-card and cash register receipts, point-of-sale receipts, ATM receipts, prescription labels, airline tickets and other machine-generated receipts.
According to this study the percentage availability of BPA in Cash Receipts is 0.08% - 3.7% by weight which is higher than the EU’s standard rate 0.02% by weight.
ESDO research team leader Dr. Shahriar Hossain said that thermal paper is usually used in cash register receipts in restaurants, food stores doing BPA contamination of food from fingers and hands.
He said BPA from thermal paper can be absorbed through the blood faster. At the levels measured in this study, many illnesses like diabetes and disorders like obesity can increase, he added.
The study revealed that BPA from receipts seeps into the skin, dramatically increasing the amount of BPA in the human body. And the hand disinfectant increased the absorption rate. Additionally, commonly used skin care products also appear to increase the rate of absorption of BPA, the researchers commented.
ESDO research team assessed the situation through a baseline survey carried out from February 2019 to January 2020 on total 1350 people (Consumer and retailers) to assess public perception on Bisphenol-A (BPA) in thermal papers used in popular outlets in Bangladesh.
Besides, cash receipts have been collected from local shops (Fast food, super shop, restaurants, pharmacy, ATM etc.) and ATM booths of the surveyed areas by ESDO research team.
The laboratory tests of thermal papers found the presence of BPA in quantities ranging from 10 – 53 μg/cm2 where 0% of the population surveyed was aware of thermal paper containing BPA and its adverse effects.
Former Secretary and ESDO Chairperson Syed Marghub Murshed, who presided over the session, said the current outlook is based on a review by the ESDO of numerous studies, as well as its in-depth research on BPA.
He urged the government to work seriously on this subject, while ESDO will assist the government in integrating the issue of BPA into regulations.
Joint Secretary of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Keya Khan attended the event as special guest.
She stated that as children and pregnant women are vulnerable to BPA, the health and environmental hazards needs to be assessed and regulated through proper monitoring.
Additional Secretary of Health Service Division Enamul Haque of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare appreciated the initiative and called for taking necessary steps to look for environmental friendly alternative immediately.
ESDO Executive Director Siddika Sultanacalled for a proper waste segregation and management for BPA coated receipts to prevent BPA contamination of drinking water and food.
Director General of Department of Environment (DoE) expressed his concern over the issue while delivering his speech as chief guest. He said “The threat arising from BPA in receipts should not be overlooked.”
He spoke of the need for formulating regulation to tackle the problem.
Former Chairman of Department of Chemistry in the University of Dhaka Prof. Dr. Abu Jafar Mahmud, , Former Chairman of Department of Chemistry in Jahangirnagar University Prof. Dr. Abul Hashem, Director of DOE Masud Iqbal Shameem,
,Project Coordinator of Environmental Intervention Unit, icddr,b Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman also spoke at the programme.
Unauthorized production of lead acid batteries endanger environment, say experts
An uncontrolled growth of Illegally made lead acid batteries and their recycling across the country is posing a great threat to environment and public health, according to officials and environmentalists.
The unauthorized business continues unabated due to the absence of any comprehensive plan and effective watchdog mechanism, they said.
The Department of Environment (DoE), the environment watchdog, can do little with its only 11 designated officials to deal with over 500 illegal recycling and manufacturing plants, official sources said.
Read: Acid, lead from expired batteries threaten health, environment in Khulna
The DoE, however, promulgated a new gazette notification on Feb. 25 this year replacing its old one of 2006 to check the illegal business through some mandatory provisions, but its inadequate logistics made no major impact on the industry.
Environmentalists found the latest DoE move a feudal practice that fails to yield any expected result because of the lack of coordinated and comprehensive plan in its enforcement mechanism.
Battery industry insiders said currently there are over 500 illegal battery recycling and 35 illegal manufacturing plants in operation across the country.
Read: Info-Sarker-3: Lithium-ion battery use “to harm environment”
These came up in last 15 years as the batteries were in high demand for multiple uses, particularly in battery-run easybikes, solar power, industries and motor vehicles.
According to the environmentalists a good number of the unauthorized plants were set up by some Chinese nationals who came to the country on travel visa and got involved in the business in connivance with their local partners.
A big number of these plants were set up in Gazipur, Savar and Demra area while others are in other parts of the country.
Read Demand raised for formation of environment clubs
On the other hand, as per statistics of Accumulators Battery Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh (ABMEAB), there are 24 legally-set up battery manufacturing industries of which five have recycling processing facilities meeting the government’s compliances.
Sharif Jamil, General Secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA), a platform of environmentalists, observed that frequent disposal of lead acid battery at open places by battery sellers and illegal recyclers leads to a serious air pollution posing a great risk to human body.
Experts said lead acid batteries are made up of plates of lead and separate plates of lead dioxide, which are submerged into an electrolyte solution of about 38% sulphuric acid and 62% water.
Read: Lead Exposure: Bangladesh 4th worst-hit in terms of child deaths
If the batteries are melted in open places without following modern disposal and recycling system, they said, it interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues including heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems.
They also said lead interfered with the development of the nervous system and was, therefore, particularly toxic to children, causing potentially permanent learning and behaviour disorders.
Symptoms include abdominal pain, confusion, headache, anaemia, irritability, and in severe cases, seizures, coma and death. Routes of exposure to lead include contaminated air, water, soil, food, and consumer products.
The environmentalists said the recent introduction of solar home system and electric vehicles had given a big boost to the use of lead acid batteries, which prompted a number of local and foreign national firms to come into the battery manufacturing business.
Read Experts seek gender-responsive environment for volunteer engagement
Recent closure of about 3000 battery manufacturing plants in China also played a big role in setting up business by Chinese nationals, said a top official at the DoE.
According to battery industry insiders more than 5 million units of batteries are used annually by different sectors in Bangladesh with its 10% growth rate.
Director General of DoE Md Ashraf Uddin admitted the existence of illegal battery recycling and manufacturing business and said his department launches drives frequently against their operators through mobile court across country and file cases on regular basis.
“But on many occasions, the actual owners of these illegal business remain untraceable as they are not found on the spot during our operations”, he told UNB.
Read Environment Minister to highlight Bangladesh priorities at 'COP26 July Ministerial'
He also claimed that the recently promulgated new regulations will play a major role in checking the illegal business as it made mandatory for business operators to meet some compliances to run their business—either in the sales, disposal, recycling or manufacturing.
He, however, expressed his limitations in enforcement of the new law because of lack of adequatelogistics as the DoE has only 11 officials to deal with the matter across the country.
The BAPA general secretary said the DoE’s move will not be able to improve the situation unless there is any comprehensive plan with necessary logistics with strong commitment.
“First of all, the government needs to change its current mind set to deal with the matter”, said Sharif Jamil.
Read Climate action: BYLC holds World Environment Day Creative Competition
About the illegal recycling and manufacturing, an official of ABMEAB said some Chinese nationals come to the country and collect a primary permission from Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and start business without any compliance.
He said the issue was discussed in a tripartite meeting of BIDA, DoE and battery manufacturers, but no positive response came from the BIDA to check this illegal business.
ABMEAB President Munawar Misbah Moin said illegal battery operators not only harm environment and public health, but it also hurt the tax-paying legal plant operators.
Read Environmental Sustainability: Dekko ISHO joins hands with Eco Via