UN Secretary-General António Guterres  has issued a powerful call for increased global cooperation to address the “global emergency” of worsening air pollution. “Global problems require global solutions. We must act together for clean air,” said Guterres marking the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies on Thursday. The theme for the fourth annual International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, "Together for Clean Air", highlights the urgent need for stronger partnerships, increased investment, and share responsibility for overcoming air pollution. Read: Bangladeshis, Indians, Nepalis and Pakistanis expected to live 5 years less due to air pollution: AQLI “Together, we must accelerate a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels, particularly coal, towards clean renewable energy, while ensuring that no one is left behind,” said Guterres. Airborne contaminants are one of the most significant environmental health risks. According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), 99 per cent of the world’s population breathes polluted air, with the exposure significantly worse in low and middle-income countries. The pervasive nature of air pollution requires global collaboration. This year’s theme, Together for Clean Air, addresses the urgent need for stronger international partnerships, increased investment, and collective responsibility to cut air pollution. Read: Dhaka's air tops world's most polluted list once again Air pollution is defined as any chemical, physical, or biological contaminant that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. Household cookers and other combustion devices, cars, industrial facilities, and forest fires are the most common sources of air pollution. Air pollution exists both outdoors and indoors, and both severely impact human health. Pollutants which are particularly dangerous include carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide. Air pollution also includes PM2.5, inhalable particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter – less than that of human hair. These particulates are invisible to the human eye and can penetrate deep into the lungs where they can cause inflammation, enter the bloodstream, and damage the heart and brain. Read: More rains likely across the country over 72 hours: BMD Exposure dramatically increases the risk of strokes, heart and lung disease, cancer, and other ailments, leading to over 6.7 million premature deaths annually, according to WHO. Air pollution also affects plants, reduces crop yields and impacts food security. It worsens social and gender inequality, and slows economic development, limiting the ability of countries to meet their development goals. “Exposure at any level can have health implications that impair quality of life and come with costs for the individual, our societies, and our economies,” said Martina Otto, head of the secretariat of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)-convened Climate and Clean Air Coalition. Solutions to improve air quality vary based on local contexts and sectors. At the individual level, people can initiate change by making decisions that promote clean air, such as making environmentally friendly purchases and using cleaner methods of transportation and cooking. Businesses and corporations can add air quality to corporate social responsibility considerations, monitor and publicly report pollution emissions, and promote programmes that reduce emissions. Governments should create and enforce air pollution standards to achieve milestones outlined in the 2021 World Health Organization guidelines, in addition to increasing their capacity to monitor air quality. Read: Take concrete actions to address climate change, achieve SDGs: Speakers The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, is commemorated on 7 September annually, was established in 2019 by the UN General Assembly, which recognized the importance of clean air and the impact of air pollution on human health and ecosystems, in particular its disproportionate affect on women, children and older persons.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Friday said the G20 platform can provide means of implementation, including finance, technology and capacity-building to the countries of the Global South in realizing the SDGs. He was speaking as a panelist on the possible role of the G20 in the evolving geopolitical context at a panel discussion of the 8th edition of Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. State Minister Alam called upon the G20 countries to make concerted efforts in overcoming the current global challenges like climate change, post-pandemic recovery, disruption of supply chain, food insecurity as well as energy and economic crisis. The State Minister also drew the attention of the global community, including the G20 nations, to Bangladesh’s remarkable development journey under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He urged the other nations to be part of this wonderful journey. Read more: Dhaka urges G20 countries to take corrective actions to reverse trend of global warming Alam also asked the G20 nations to actively engage in ensuring immediate repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Bangladesh to Myanmar. The State Minister was joined by Foreign Ministers of Canada and Foreign Ministry of Mexico and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in the panel discussion.

Recover, a global producer of low-impact, high-quality recycled cotton fibre and fibre blends, and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have discussed a possible collaboration to enhance the capacity of recycling the textile waste in Bangladesh to make the country a global hub of recycling. They expressed high optimism about developing the recycling industry in Bangladesh as 75 percent of apparel products are cotton-based and nearly 400,000 tons of recyclable pre-consumer waste is produced in Bangladesh every year, of which only 5 percent is locally recycled. Benjamin Joseph Malka, executive chairman of Recover, met with BGMEA President Faruque in Dhaka Wednesday. Alejandro Raña, chief business development officer, at Recover, was also present at the meeting. Read more: Bangladesh's RMG bracing for next phase of growth: BGMEA "We see a huge prospect in developing the recycling industry in Bangladesh. By capturing and reusing textile waste, we can reduce our cotton import and export clothing, made of recycled fibres, worth around USD 3 billion," Faruque said. Bangladesh's apparel industry has turned its focus on a shift from the linear economic model to circular as a circular fashion system could bring not only environmental but financial benefits for Bangladesh, he added. BGMEA has already entered into a partnership with Global Fashion Agenda (GFA), Reverse Resources, and P4G in an initiative "Circular Fashion Partnership" which aims to achieve a long-term, scalable transition to a circular fashion system. Read more: BGMEA seeks uninterrupted energy supply by special arrangements  Ben said Recover had already made a huge investment in the recycling industry of Bangladesh and was keen to invest more to develop the recycling capacity in the country.    

Global average temperatures have risen and weather extremes have already seen an uptick, so the short answer to whether it’s too late to stop climate change is: yes. But there’s still time to prevent cascading effects, as every degree of additional warming has exponentially disastrous impacts, experts say. A 2021 report by the top body of climate scientists provided new analysis of the chance the world has to cap warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) or 2 Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times in the coming decades, in line with global climate goals. Although scientists estimated it’s still possible to stay within these limits, they said it would require immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. It’s more likely that global temperature will reach or exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, the report said. Without major action to reduce emissions, the global average temperature is on track to rise by 2.5 to 4.5 degrees Celsius (4.5 to 8.1 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100, scientists say. And researchers warn that the situation will get very serious before then: Once the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold is reached, there will be increasing heat waves, longer warm seasons and shorter cold seasons. When the 2 degrees Celsius mark is crossed, critical tolerance levels for agriculture and health will be reached. Read more: UN, ADB to support Bangladesh's fight against climate change But all hope is not lost, they urge. At the time of the report’s release, Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College of London, said achieving the 1.5-degree goal “is still possible from a physical science point of view.” “If we reduce emissions globally to net zero by 2040 there is still a two thirds chance to reach 1.5 degrees and if we globally achieve net zero emissions by the middle of the century, there is still a one third chance to achieve that,” she said. If all human emissions of heat-trapping gases were to stop today, Earth’s temperature would continue to rise for a few decades but would eventually stabilize, climate scientists say. If humans don’t emit any additional planet-warming gasses, then natural processes would begin to slowly remove the excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and global temperatures would gradually begin to decline. Read more: Bangladesh a key player in fight against climate change, says British envoy “There is a direct relation between delay and warming, and between warming and risk of what we would call extreme impacts,” said Ajay Gambhir, a senior research fellow at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, based at Imperial College London. “ Unfortunately, we’re already seeing all these extreme impacts — whether it’s extreme heat waves, increased risk of crop failures, forest fires or bleaching coral reefs— already happening.”

Climate change impacts generate loss and damage, globally creating crises for society, human health and development, says a new report released on Wednesday. Disclosing comprehensive new data on the impact of climate change, the report also highlighted the asymmetric consequences for society which deepen global inequalities with poorer and more vulnerable nations the hardest hit. The flagship report titled “Climate Vulnerability Monitor, 3rd edition: A Planet on Fire”, commissioned by the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and the Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Group of Ministers of Finance of the CVF presented the stark proof. Ban Ki-moon, Chairman of the Board of Global Center on Adaptation and 8th UN secretary-general said with this third edition “CVM” we see clearly just how much humanity finds itself at the crossroads. "Sadly, we have become a “Planet on Fire”, as the report’s title highlights. If we do not act now, by the end of the century, millions of lives would be lost every single year because of scorching heat," he said. Read more: Bangladesh a key player in fight against climate change, says British envoy Prof. Dr. Patrick V. Verkooijen, CEO of Global Center on Adaptation said this report reaffirms that the impact of climate change is asymmetric, particularly today, particularly with respect to health, jobs, food and development for poor and vulnerable communities in developing countries. "The shocking finding of this global assessment is that some of the world’s richest and most powerful economies will also see their economic growth compromised throughout the 21st century, not just lowering incomes but also increasing inflation and interest rates. It is now crystal clear that every economy, every government, and every community must take action to analyse, monitor and respond to these risks.” Prof. Dr. Saleemul Huq, Chair of the CVF Expert Advisory Group said the Climate Vulnerability Monitor provides them with the anatomy of the loss and damage the world now lives with because of decades of insufficient climate inaction by rich, powerful and responsible countries. The detailed impact data and evidence presented by the CVM3 provides sobering reading on just how bad the situation already is, and how much worse it will become with fast rising global health risks, extreme heat events, and economic shocks, to name a few, he said. "Loss and damage has become the biggest risk to global prosperity in the present age. The international community must act and support those worst affected and least responsible with funding and solutions. COP27 must make good on this agenda," Huq added. The CVM3’s full online data set with global coverage at national level portal will be released via a dedicated portal on 10 November 2022 at UNFCCC COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. The third edition of the Climate Vulnerability Monitor (CVM3), a research program into the impact of climate change publicly released today, is the product of a multi-year research program involving a multi-organization science consortium led by the Global Center on Adaptation, Climate Analytics, the Lancet Countdown and finres, as well as 14 regional partner organizations. The Monitor consolidates the latest research from the scientific literature on the attribution of climate change in 32 distinct indicators of socio-economic and environmental change and impact phenomena. Read more: UN, ADB to support Bangladesh's fight against climate change The Monitor projects and compares how, for a wide range of countries, these impacts evolve throughout the 21st century under a climate and socio-economic scenario that limits warming to 1.5°C, versus a below 2°C scenario, and a high emissions scenario without climate action to reduce emissions or mobilize additional adaptation efforts. The CVM3 findings illustrate the significant extent to which limiting warming to 1.5ºC could contain otherwise enormous losses and damage for the world this century. The CVM3 and its scenarios and modeling are informed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) latest Sixth Assessment Report. The 32 individual climate impact indicators for the time periods of 2030, 2050 and 2090, are as follows: 19 indicators of the impact of climate change in biophysical terms including temperature changes, drought, precipitation and runoff/discharge, windspeed, soil moisture and crop yields. 10 indicators of the impact of climate change on human health, including through infectious disease and exposure to risks like heat, wildfires and food insecurity. 3 indicators of the economic impact of climate change on GDP per capita growth, inflation and interest rates. Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana Minister for Finance and Economic Planning and V20 chairman said climate-fueled risks have driven up the cost of capital and debt to unsustainable levels, especially across climate vulnerable economies, worsening already horrific financial protection gaps. "Such measures can lower the impact of climate change, make vulnerable country economies more resilient, safeguard sustainable development, and protect the lives and livelihoods of poor and vulnerable people.” Key findings of the CVM3 report include that: Annual global heat deaths among vulnerable groups could reach 3.35 million by end of century if insufficient climate action is taken: 91% of the increase in heat deaths could be avoided if global warming is limited to 1.5ºC As much as over 10% of economic growth lost every single year in the long-term for key world regions: Africa, Asia, Europe Fast-growing cumulative economic losses are already lowering incomes worldwide and raising inflation and interest rates across all regions in a negative impact that would more than double if warming exceeded 1.5ºC and reached 2ºC 20-year extreme drought events will increase 4-8 fold during the decade ahead (at 1.5°C) and 8-12 times under a below 2.0°C scenario Extreme wildfire risk to increase by 8.5% in the coming decade (at 1.5ºC) and to triple by end-of-century under a no climate action scenario Decreases in staple crop yields could reach 30-40% by end of century, but could be reduced to 5-10% if global warming is limited to 1.5ºC Henry Kokofu, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency and Special Envoy of the CVF Presidency of Ghana said the vulnerable nations have been working all year towards a decisive outcome from COP27 on loss and damage. "With this landmark CVM3 report, we are reminded of the scale and breadth of the climate calamities being visited upon poorer and vulnerable nations that lack responsibility for the climate crisis. I hope all delegations to COP27 will study the findings of the CVM3 and that the rich, powerful and responsible nations will be convinced to extend necessary support for addressing the stark injustice of loss and damage.”  

Voicing deep concern over the firing of mortar shells by the Myanmar Army inside Bangladesh, BNP on Saturday urged the UN and the international community to take steps to stop such insolent activities and violation of international law. “We would like to draw the attention of the United Nations and the international community to take necessary measures to prevent such audacity of Myanmar," said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Speaking at an emergency meeting at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he also called upon the Awami League government to take appropriate measures boldly to protect the territorial integrity of independent and sovereign Bangladesh." The BNP leader said an alarming situation has been prevailing along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border areas due to repeated incidents of firing mortar shells into Bangladesh territory by the Myanmar Armed Forces. Read: Govt has divided the state system through politicization: Fakhrul He said the military aggression of the Myanmar Armed Forces, which started on August 28, has been increasing due to the weak and subservient diplomacy of the current ‘illegitimate’ government of Bangladesh. “In the latest incident, a Rohingya teenager who was hit by a mortar shell fired by the Myanmar forces died yesterday (Friday) on the zero-line opposite to the Ghumdhum border in Naikhongchhari Upazila of Bandarban. Five more kids were injured in the incident,” Fakhrul said. A week after firing mortar shells along the Bangladesh border, he said the Myanmar forces repeatedly violated the airspace and fired mortar shells from warplanes and helicopters. Read: BNP's movement cannot be suppressed by attacks, arrests: Fakhrul “The mortar shells exploded within 120 meters of Bangladesh territory near the zero-line of Naikhongchhari border in Bandarban, which is a direct violation of international law. The Myanmar forces are often firing toward Bangladesh violating the airspace. BNP strongly condemns and protests the killing of people by firing mortar shells by the Myanmar Army along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border and the violation of international law,” the BNP leader said. He also said Myanmar is showing such audacity by firing mortar shells inside Bangladesh only because of the government’s knee-jerk foreign policy.

The overall number of Covid cases has now surged past 596 million amid a rise in new infections in parts of the world. According to the latest global data, the total case count mounted to 596,934,012 and the death toll reached 6,459,290 on Wednesday morning. The US has recorded 94,869,936 cases so far and 1,063,087 people have died from the virus in the country, the data shows. India's daily Covid-19 caseload rose to 8,813 on Tuesday, officials said. According to federal health ministry data released on Tuesday, 8,813 new cases of Covid were reported in 24 hours, taking the total tally to 44,277,194 in the country. The cases reported on Tuesday marked a sharp decline in comparison to the daily caseload of 14,917 reported on Monday. India's active caseload currently stands at 111,252, according to the ministry. Read: Global Covid cases top 594 million The country also logged 29 related deaths in 24 hours, pushing the overall death toll to 527,098 since the beginning of the pandemic, the ministry said. Meanwhile, the Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported 566 locally transmitted confirmed Covid cases, of which 482 were in Hainan Province, the National Health Commission said Wednesday. Covid in Bangladesh Bangladesh reported zero Covid deaths and 93 new cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning. The country last reported zero Covid-linked death on August 13. With the latest numbers, Bangladesh's total fatalities remained static at 29,314 while the caseload rose to 2,009,222, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The daily case test positivity rate rose to 4.41 percent from Monday's 4.09 percent as 2,110 samples were tested. The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.46 percent. The recovery rate rose to 97.15 percent from Monday's 97.14 percent. In July, the country reported 142 Covid-linked deaths and 31,422 cases, the highest monthly death toll and caseload since March this year. Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.  

The two-day 11th International Conference on the Restructuring of the Global Economy (ROGE) will be held at the Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford during August 8-9. The Centre for Business and Economic Research (CBER) of London and Egypt's Future University will co-host the international event, seeking to elucidate a wealth of issues in all aspects of business management, management education, teaching and learning methodologies and many more. Academics, business practitioners, and policymakers from over 25 countries will join the conference. Topics including the global economy, artificial intelligence, higher education challenges, corporate governance, and the economic impact of emerging cyber threats will be discussed at the 11the edition of ROGE. Several international experts, including Dr Mike Wagner of the University of Cincinnati, Professor Nagwa Khashba of Future University, Professor Beheruz N Sethna, president emeritus at the University of West Georgia, Chris Bellamy, professor emeritus at the University of Greenwich, Ghanaian Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Selva Pankaj, CEO of Regent Group, UK, will give keynote addresses at this conference. Read: Egypt's Future University to co-host intl conference on restructuring of global economy Jo-Ann Rolle, dean of School of Business of the City University of New York, Professor Padmakali Banerjee, vice-chancellor of Sir Padampat Singhania University, Professor Alan Parkinson, principal teaching fellow at the University College London, Dr Warren Matthews of Belhaven University, Professor Peter Cook of the University of Wollongong, Srini Sampalli, professor at Dalhousie University, Professor Deepraj Mukherjee of Kent State University, Professor Hoda Abd El Hamid Ali Mohamed of Future University, Professor Srinivasan R Iyengar, of the University of Mumbai, and Professor David Graves of the CBER also speak at the international event. The international conference has a sizable following and draws academics, policymakers, and observers from all over the world. PR Datta, chair of the conference and executive chair of the CBER said: "I am confident that such an international event will benefit all researchers in their pursuit of research, scholarship, and practice." Professor Ebada Sarhan, president of Future University, welcomed the collaboration with the CBER.  "Hosting this conference in cooperation with the CBER provides a chance to study and share research and a road to achieving the 'Partnership for the Goals' as a fundamental pillar of the Sustainable Development Goals," Ebada Sarhan said.

The overall number of Covid cases has surged past 574 million amid a rise in new infections in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe. According to the latest global data, the total case count mounted to 574,747,815 and the death toll reached 6,402,465 Sunday morning. The US has recorded 92,172,336 cases so far and 1,051,979 people have died from the virus in the country, the data shows. India on Saturday recorded over 21,000 fresh cases of COVID-19 for the third straight day, officials said. According to health ministry data released on Saturday morning, 21,411 new cases of COVID-19 were reported during the past 24 hours, taking the total tally to 43,868,476 in the country. With the reporting of fresh cases, India's active caseload currently stands at 150,100. Read: Covid-19: Bangladesh logs 8 more deaths, 879 new cases The country also logged 67 COVID-19-related deaths during this period, which has pushed the overall death toll to 525,997 since the beginning of the pandemic, the ministry said. With the increase in cases, the daily positivity rate rose to 4.46 percent and the weekly positivity rate was also recorded at 4.46 percent, the ministry data showed. So far 43,192,379 people have been successfully cured and discharged from hospitals, of whom 20,726 were discharged during the past 24 hours. Covid situation in Bangladesh Bangladesh recorded four more Covid-19-linked deaths with 446 new cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning. With the latest figures, the country's total fatalities reached 29,262 while the caseload to 2,001,345, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The daily case positivity rate rose to 10.10 per cent from Friday’s 8.36 per cent as 4,415 samples were tested. The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.46 per cent. The recovery rate rose to 96.67 percent from Friday's 96.62 per cent.

The overall number of Covid cases has now surpassed 557 million amid a rise in new infections in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe. According to the latest global data, the total case count mounted to 557,522,144 and the death toll from the virus reached 6,366,784 Thursday morning. The US has recorded 89,930,463 cases so far and 1,044,557 people have died from the virus in the country, the data shows. India reported as many as 16,159 new Covid-19 cases in 24 hours, taking the total tally to 43,547,809, as per the data released by the federal health ministry Wednesday. A total of 454,465 Covid-19 tests were conducted across the country in 24 hours, added the ministry. Besides, 28 deaths due to the pandemic were reported since Tuesday morning, taking the total toll to 525,270. Covid in Bangladesh Bangladesh registered four more Covid-linked deaths with 1,728 cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning amid a rapid surge in new infections. Read: Fake Covid testing scam: Shahed denied bail The fresh numbers took the country's total caseload to 1,984,700 and fatalities to 29,185, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The daily case positivity rate rose to 16.89 per cent from Tuesday’s 16.74 per cent as 10, 175 samples were tested during the period, said the DGHS. The country last reported 13 Covid-linked deaths with 368 cases on March 5 this year. The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.47 per cent. The recovery rate declined to 96.23 per cent from Tuesday’s 96.28 per cent as 526 patients recovered during this period. In June, the country reported 18 Covid-linked deaths and 20,201 new cases, according to the DGHS. The country reported its first zero Covid death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 cases, since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020.