Ahead of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16), the Government of Bangladesh, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) have partnered to improve the sustainable management of critical wetland ecosystems by launching two new projects. A signing ceremony was held on Thursday at the NEC-II conference room, Economic Relations Division, where UNDP and the Government of Bangladesh signed two agreements to launch the projects titled “Community-based Management of Tanguar Haor Wetland in Bangladesh” and “Implementing Ecosystem-based Management in Ecologically Critical Areas (ECA) in Bangladesh,” both funded by GEF. The agreements were signed by Stefan Liller, UNDP Resident Representative, Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change; and Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division. The projects aim to address some of Bangladesh's most urgent environmental challenges by promoting the sustainable use of wetland resources by local communities, conserving globally significant biodiversity, and enhancing ecosystem services. Shahriar Kader Siddiky stated, "We must explore more global funding opportunities to conserve biodiversity and restore ecologically critical ecosystems. It's essential to engage local communities in the co-management of these ecosystems and ensure that conservation of natural ecosystems and biodiversity is a key consideration in any civil infrastructure projects." Dr. Farhina Ahmed stressed, "We need to reform land management for sustainable wetlands, involving local communities instead of traditional leasing. Responsible tourism is also key to protecting critical ecosystems." She added, "While climate change gets much attention, we must also focus on protecting biodiversity and improving environmental governance. This is a priority for us." Stefan Liller, in his remarks, said, "While Bangladesh has made commendable strides in climate adaptation and ecosystem restoration, the ongoing environmental challenges demand our collective and innovative efforts. UNDP remains steadfast in its partnership with the Government, particularly the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. “Together, we've mobilized approximately $362 million from the GEF to support sustainable development projects aligned with national priorities,” he further added. Senior government officials and UNDP representatives, along with others, attended the event. This collaborative effort highlights the commitment of both UNDP and the Government of Bangladesh to protect the nation's biodiversity and promote sustainable development.

A move is underway to acquire a 50-acre piece of land by the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to develop a modern waste management facility alongside the existing Landfill Site (LFS) in the city’s Amin Bazar area. According to official sources, the new site will be an expansion of the current LFS, which was also developed on 50 acres of land.   The current LFS in Amin Bazar is close to being filled up with the waste collected from the areas under DNCC. “The LFS in Amin Bazar is overfilled and went to 80 feet high from the level. Now it has become risky for workers to further fill the land with waste,” Captain Mohammad Fida Hasan, Chief Waste Management Officer of the DNCC, told UNB. DNCC completes sacrificial animal waste removal on second day of Eid He said the DNCC has completed all the necessary procedures to receive the land from the district administration once the allotted fund is released by the Finance Ministry. The DNCC will need Tk 450 crore from the GoB (Government of Bangladesh) fund to acquire the land. Fida Hasan also informed that the new LFS will be developed alongside the establishment of the proposed 42.5 MW Waste-to-Energy power plant which is expected to start power generation from July 2026. When such a power plant is being developed as part of the waste management system, why is such a new LFS required?-responding to such a question, the DNCC Chief Waste Management Officer said that the new site will have different facilities like electronic waste management, medicate waste treatment, and solid waste management. This will require new land to develop the facilities, which also include establishment of a training centre and vehicle parking area. Currently, Dhaka city is collecting 3,000 mts of solid waste from different areas which is about 80 percent of the total waste. DNCC completes 100% removal of sacrificial animal waste within deadline As per a plan, this total waste will be supplied to the Waste to Energy project daily while CMEC will set up an incineration plant to generate 42.5 MW power and BPDB will purchase the electricity from the plant at US21.78 Cents, equivalent to Tk 18.295, per kilowatt hour (each unit) over a period of 25 years. But DNCC officials said if any additional wastes are collected, those will be filled in the new modern LFS. They also said this new system will be developed under its “New Clean Dhaka Master Plan 2018–2032” which was envisioned to introduce “Environmentally Advanced City with Integrated and Sustainable Solid Waste Management: Toward Zero-Waste”. According to the Master Plan, the core target of the DNCC is collecting more waste generated at households by increasing the collection capacity, reducing waste by introducing waste separation and recycling, and minimizing the volume of the remaining waste that goes to the LFS with intermediate treatment so that the lifespan of LFS can be extended. This Master Plan highlights four indicators: waste collection, waste reduction, recycling, and to quantitatively monitor landfill disposal. Read more: E-Waste Crisis: Effects of Electronic Waste on Environment and Human Health

Though the country’s target to generate 10 percent electricity from clean and renewable sources by 2020 was not achieved, a fresh target for 25 percent renewable energy is going to be proposed for  2030. According to official sources, the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) will propose the new target, to be incorporated in the proposed Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP). “We’re going to propose a new target to generate 10,000 MW electricity from renewable sources by 2030, when total power generation will be 40,000 MW,” SREDA chairman Mohammad Aladdin told UNB recently. READ: Bangladesh trying to import 500 MW hydro-electricity from Nepal: Power Cell DG Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR) recently started a process to formulate the IEPMP with the technical and financial support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Tokyo-based Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), has been assigned to adopt the plan for both power and energy sectors. Previously, separate master plans were made for each sector. But for the first time, an integrated plan is being designed for the two sectors.    Alauddin, also an additional secretary of the Power Division under the MPEMR, informed that Sreda had an introductory session with the JICA team in a consultative discussion. “But now we’re working out on the issue to give a concrete proposal on renewable energy’s stake in the proposed IEPMP,” he told UNB.      As per the Sreda proposal, wind power will play a major role in future renewable energy generation in the country and half of the target will be met by this source of green energy. “Exploiting the new and efficient technology, we’re now planning to set up a good number of wind power plants by 2030,” he said, adding a recent study found wind speed at 6 metres per second at higher hub height. Currently wind is contributing less than 3 MW though, according to SREDA's own numbers.  For the other half of that 10,000 MW, the SREDA chairman listed 1,000 MW power from rooftop solar, 1000 MW from floating solar, 1000 MW from solar park and 2,400 MW from nuclear power are expected by 2030, he added.

Between 5-6 March, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in coordination with the Moheshkhali Upazila administration and other governmental bodies is conducting a “Safety at Sea” training for 200 boatmen based on the island of Moheshkhali, with the support of the  Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA).

Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said Monday that late-stage trials showed its coronavirus vaccine was up to 90% effective, giving public health officials hope they may soon have access to a vaccine that is cheaper and easier to distribute than some of its rivals.