Speakers at a webinar have said that the reevaluation of the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) is essential for reducing air pollution and carbon emissions.
They made the observation at an online policy dialogue titled “The Role of the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) in Reducing Carbon Emissions and Ensuring Clean Air”, jointly organised by the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS), the Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD), and the Just Energy Transition Network Bangladesh (JETNet-BD) on Thursday.
Speaking at the event Mr. Mohammad Ejaz, administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation, stressed the importance of renewable energy in ensuring clean air and reducing carbon emissions.
He called for reducing reliance on fossil fuels and suggested that policy reevaluation may be necessary for achieving fair and sustainable urban development.
Md. Shamsuddoha, chief executive of CPRD, presided over and moderated the policy dialogue while Dr. S.M. Manjurul Hannan Khan, executive director of Nature Conservation Management, and Mr. Dharitri Kumar Sarkar, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change spoke on the occasion.
Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director of CPD, warned against excessive reliance on foreign donors and consultants for policy-making. He proposed forming a national joint commission to ensure effective policy formulation and implementation without depending on foreign resources.
Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, chairman of CAPS, presented the keynote paper. He highlighted that the IEPMP lacks clear guidelines on emission standards and energy transition.
He emphasised that merely focusing on power generation capacity without integrating strong pollution control measures would have long-term negative consequences on Bangladesh’s environment and economy.
Dharitri Kumar Sarkar pointed out that Bangladesh has multiple energy policies, but they often lack coordination. He emphasised the need for a comprehensive and effective policy framework.
S.M. Manjurul Hannan Khan, executive director of Nature Conservation Management, stressed that energy policies should be based on scientific research and undergo periodic reevaluation.
Md. Abul Kalam Azad from ActionAid Bangladesh stated that Bangladesh’s energy demand will continue to grow. He pointed out the lack of energy security in the country and urged a rapid transition to renewable energy sources.
He emphasised that moving away from fossil fuels and adopting renewable energy is essential to preventing power crises.
Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin, secretary of the Center for Law and Policy Affairs, suggested the formation of a Renewable Energy Commission, emphasising public and expert consultations to prevent energy waste.
Roufa Khanam, assistant director of C3ER, BRAC University, underscored the urgency of research-based discussions on carbon emissions. She called for a policy review to effectively incorporate emission standards and energy transition measures in the IEPMP.