Air pollution
What is Carbon Trading? How does it work?
Carbon emissions, primarily in the form of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄), contribute to global warming, climate change, and sea-level rising which in turn increase the frequency and intensity of natural phenomena, and disasters like cyclones, floods, wildfire, drought, heatwave, etc. Reduction of carbon emissions has multifarious environmental, economic, social, and health benefits. Carbon trading is both a benefit and a mechanism for reducing carbon emissions. Here’s how it works and why it can be beneficial.
What is Carbon Trading
Carbon trading, also known as carbon emissions trading, is a market-based approach to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It allows countries, companies, or organizations to buy and sell permits that represent the right to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. By putting a price on carbon emissions, it incentivizes participants to lower their emissions and invest in cleaner technologies.
Carbon emissions trading operates under a cap-and-trade system where governments or organizations set a limit (cap) on total emissions. Companies receive or buy carbon credits, which allow them to emit a certain amount of CO₂. If a company emits less than its allowance, it can sell its excess credits to others. If a company exceeds its limit, it must buy more credits or face penalties.
Carbon trading is a benefit of reducing emissions because it creates financial incentives for businesses to go green. However, it works best when proper regulations and transparency ensure that actual emission reductions occur.
Read more: Plastic Pollution: Harmful effects on human health and environment
What Is the Process of Carbon Credit Sale?
The process of selling carbon credits involves several steps, from generating the credits to finding buyers and completing the transaction. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:
Carbon Credit Generation
A company or project must first reduce or remove greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through activities like reforestation, renewable energy projects, or carbon capture. The emission reduction must be measured, verified, and certified by an independent third party.
Verification & Certification
The project must be validated by recognized carbon standards such as: Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), Gold Standard, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Climate Action Reserve (CAR), etc. These standards ensure that each credit represents one metric ton of CO₂ reduced or removed.
Registration on a Carbon Registry
Verified carbon credits are registered on platforms like: Verra, American Carbon Registry (ACR), Gold Standard Registry, etc. Each credit receives a unique serial number to prevent double counting.
Read more: How Can One Person Reduce Environmental Pollution?
Finding Buyers
There are two main types of carbon markets:
Compliance or Regulated Markets are created by government regulations to limit carbon emissions. Companies must buy carbon credits if they exceed their allowed emissions cap.
In the Cap-and-Trade system, governments set a maximum emission limit (cap). Companies emitting less than their limit can sell excess credits to others exceeding their cap.
Some countries impose a carbon tax, but companies can reduce their tax burden by purchasing credits.
Major Compliance Markets include the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), California Cap-and-Trade Program, China’s National ETS, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), etc.
In the Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) markets, companies and individuals buy carbon credits voluntarily to offset their emissions. These credits come from projects that remove or reduce CO₂ emissions, such as reforestation, renewable energy, and carbon capture.
Read more: Effects of Air Pollution on Unborn Children, Neonates, Infants
1 week ago
Dhaka 4th worst city in the world Saturday morning
Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked 4th on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI index of 192 at 9:29 am on Saturday.
Dhaka’s air was classified as 'unhealthy', according to the air quality and pollution city ranking.
India's Delhi, Cambodia’s Phnom Penh, and Uganda’s Kampala occupied the first and second spots in the list, with AQI scores of 209, 203 and 194, respectively.
Dhaka’s air quality ranks world's 3rd worst on Tuesday
An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy' while 201-300 is 'very unhealthy' and 301-400 is considered 'hazardous', posing severe health risks to residents.
The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Improved air quality could save over 81,000 lives annually in Bangladesh: Report
2 weeks ago
Dhaka’s air quality ranks world’s 2nd worst on Thursday
Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked the second on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 267 at 9am this morning (January 30, 2025).
Today's air was classified as “very unhealthy”, referring to a severe health threat, according to the AQI index. Such an unhealthy environment has been prevailing in the densely polluted city over the past few days.
When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
Delhi’s India, Uganda’s Kampala and Iran’s Tehran respectively occupied the first, third and fourth positions on the list, with AQI score of 333, 194 and 183.
Reducing air pollution time-consuming process: Rizwana
The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
2 weeks ago
Reducing air pollution time-consuming process: Rizwana
Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said reducing air pollution is a time-consuming process dependent on economic capacity, development patterns, communication infrastructure, and the transport system.
Thirty to 35% of Bangladesh’s air pollution originates from foreign sources, while 28% comes from power plants, underscoring the need for a well-defined action plan to control pollution, she said while speaking as the chief guest at a Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on the Bangladesh Clean Air Project on Wednesday.
The workshop was held at the Department of Environment in Dhaka’s Agargaon.
Rizwana, US Charge d’Affaires discuss critical environmental challenges
Reducing air pollution is impossible without improving fuel quality and increasing refinery capacity. Even neighbouring countries that have enhanced their refineries still struggle with air pollution, often ranking among the most polluted cities. Therefore, Bangladesh must adopt a long-term strategy to combat pollution effectively, the adviser said.
For the Clean project to be meaningful, tangible progress in pollution reduction must be visible. Merely monitoring and reporting the deterioration of air quality is not enough; concrete actions must be taken. The Department of Environment will launch a hotline where citizens can report air pollution issues during the winter months, added Rizwana.
Adviser Rizwana urges unified global action to tackle climate change
"This project must be designed in a way that ensures visible improvements in air quality. If we can reduce dust pollution by 13% and control industrial emissions, we will make significant progress,” she said.
The World Bank has already joined the project, and more development partners should be engaged to ensure that it meets the country's real needs and provides practical solutions for the people, Rizwana also said.
Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, DoE Director General Dr Md Kamruzzaman, and World Bank Manager-Environment Christian Albert Peter spoke at the event, among others.
2 weeks ago
Authorities turn a blind eye as Illegal brickfields pollute Chapainawabganj air
The north-western district, known for its eye-catching greenery and mango orchards, hosts 113 brick kilns, over 80 percent of these operating illegally.
With prohibited chimneys spewing black smoke and polluting the air, the brick kilns continue to operate thanks to negilence of the authorities concerned.
The rampant black smoke has been adversely impacting the livelihood and agricultural production in the district, said locals with a call for immediate action to shut the kilns.
The Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) Act, amended in 2013 and again in 2019, mandates licensing for all brick kilns from the office of district deputy commissioner and approval from the Department of Environment (DoE).
According to the law, it is prohibited to set up brick kilns in residential, protected, or commercial areas, city corporations, municipalities, or agricultural land. The use of wood as fuel in brick kilns is also banned.
However, most of the brick kilns are situated near residential areas, mango orchards, and agricultural land, with many using wood as fuel, which is a complete violation of the law.
According to data served from the district DoE, there are currently 113 brick kilns operating in the five upazilas, with only 20 kilns valid and the rest 93 unauthorised.
Read: 4 acres of forestland recovered in Gazipur, 7 illegal brick kilns demolished in Tangail
A field visit revealed vast open fields where black smoke was rising from the chimneys of brick kilns, overshadowing the surrounding greenery.
Several brick kilns were found within mango orchards and residential areas, and within short distance. Some brickfields stand close to each other.
In all five upazilas of the district, illegal brick kilns are cropping up in mango orchards and farmland. Standing at the new bridge in Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila, one can see smoke emitting off almost 14 brick kilns.
Wishing not to be named, a brick kiln owner admitted that the number of legal brick kilns in the district is very low, claiming that like legal brick kilns, illegal kilns also pay VAT to the government.
He also said that while everyone tries to set up brick kilns in open areas but such areas are hardly found.
Abu Said, assistant director at the DoE in the district, said that the deputy commissioner has already been informed about the matter, with expectation to begin drives against illegal brickfields soon.
Read more: 8 brick kilns fined Tk 12 lakh in Kushtia for unauthorised operations
He, however, said it would not be possible to shut them down all at once as the number of the illegal brick kilns is so high. The drives will be carried out in phases.
Deputy Commissioner Abdus Samad warned that no illegal brickfield would be spared and drives would be launched soon.
2 weeks ago
Dhaka’s air most polluted in the world this morning
Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has topped the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI index of 255 at 09:01am on Friday.
The air was classified as 'very unhealthy', according to the air quality and pollution city ranking.
An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy' while 201-300 is 'very unhealthy' and 301-400 is considered 'hazardous', posing severe health risks to residents.
Vietnam’s Hanoi, Uzbekistan’s Tashkent and India’s Delhi occupied the second, third and fourth spots in the list, with AQI scores of 234, 201 and 189, respectively.
Dhaka’s air quality ranks world's 2nd worst on Thursday
The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Dhaka's air quality is worst in the world this morning
As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
4 weeks ago
Taskforce to work with time-bound action plan to address air pollution : Syeda Rizwana
The government plans to form a taskforce and implement various activities through a time-bound action plan to address air pollution, said Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
She made the remarks at a seminar titled "Air Quality Research and Environmental Policy Discussion," jointly organized by the Faculty of Science at Dhaka University and the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, held at the Faculty of Science conference room on Sunday.
Rooftop gardens vital for clean air, safe food: Rizwana
Syeda Rizwana Hasan was the chief guest at the event, while Professor Dr. Syama Haque Bidisha, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) of Dhaka University, was the guest of honor.
The seminar was chaired by Professor Dr. Abdus Salam, Dean of the Faculty of Science at Dhaka University, with Professor Dr. James J. Schauer from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, as the special guest. Amy Cass, a representative from the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, conducted the seminar.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan emphasized that everyone is suffering from the effects of air pollution in Dhaka. She stated, "The government has taken various plans and initiatives to combat air pollution. In the near future, tree planting and greening will be carried out on the dividers of roads in Dhaka, and a taskforce will be formed to implement different activities through a time-bound action plan."
She also stressed the importance of collective efforts and awareness at every level.
Govt finalises plan for Swatch of No-Ground to protect marine biodiversity: Rizwana
Dr. Sayema Haque Bidisha, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) of Dhaka University, highlighted the increasing harmful effects of air pollution on the environment, public health, and the economy.
Emphasizing the importance of raising awareness and fostering collaborative efforts between the government and various organizations to combat air pollution, she said, "people are suffering from various severe diseases due to air pollution, with rising rates of premature deaths and child mortality. Air pollution is also diminishing people’s productivity and efficiency".
1 month ago
HC orders action to curb air pollution in Dhaka in 7 days
The High Court has directed the authorities concerned to take effective steps to mitigate air pollution in Dhaka and implement nine previous directives within seven days.
The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury passed the order on Sunday and asked the authorities to submit report to the court by January 26.
Senior Advocate Manzil Morshed, representing the petitioner, appeared before the court alongside Advocates Sanjay Mondal and Salim Reza, while Deputy Attorney General Tanim Khan represented the state.
The petition was originally filed in 2019 by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh (HRPB) seeking urgent action to combat air pollution in the capital.
Environment Adviser seeks Chinese cooperation in air quality management
Following the petition, the court issued a rule and asked the authorities to form an expert committee and take preventive measures.
Despite some progress in reducing air pollution by mid-2023, Dhaka recently topped global rankings for poor air quality again due to lax enforcement of court instructions, said Advocate Manzil Morshed.
The court reiterated its nine-point directives for immediate implementation:
Those are covering soil, sand and waste transported by trucks or other vehicles, ensuring construction materials such as soil, sand and cement are covered, sprinkling water on roads regularly by city corporations and ensuring compliance with tender conditions for road and construction works.
Seizing vehicles emitting black smoke, halting the movement of vehicles past their permissible lifespan under the Road Transport Act, closing illegal brick kilns and shutting down unlicensed tire factories and ensuring proper disposal of market and shop waste by the city corporation were among those.
Advocate Morshed said although the court’s directives had been partially implemented consistent failures have allowed air pollution to reach alarming levels again.
1 month ago
Best Air Purifiers in Bangladesh: Price Guide, Top Models, and Buying Tips
Dhaka, Bangladesh’s bustling capital, consistently ranks among the world’s most polluted cities, with an alarmingly high Air Quality Index (AQI) that classifies it as "very unhealthy." While improving the city’s air pollution is a long-term challenge, we can take immediate steps to enhance indoor air quality. Investing in a reliable air purifier is an effective way to breathe cleaner air at home or in the office. This guide covers popular air purifier models, price ranges, and tips to help you make the right choice.
What is an Air Purifier?
Air purifiers are home appliances that circulate and purify the air in an enclosed area, such as a room or a theatre. Air purifier devices use two oppositely directed channels to pull in polluted air and push it out after filtering. They use filtration technologies like HEPA filters and depolluting agents like active oxygen to clean the air.
Benefits of Air Purifier
Breathing into clear air has tremendous health benefits, as most chronic diseases occur from inhaling polluted, dusty air. Installing an Air Purifier in your room will:
Remove Allergens: Allergens in the air trigger symptoms like sneezing, congestion, watery or itchy eyes, a runny nose, phlegm in the throat, rashes, and a sore throat. Air Purifiers reduce the allergen load of a room’s air to a harmless level.
Reduce Asthma Triggers: HEPA filters are tested and certified for removing about 99.97% of pollen, dust, and different airborne particles that trigger asthma-related difficulties.
Read more: Is There Any Alternative to Brick Kilns?
Reduce Airborne Pathogens: Purifiers with HEPA filters can catch bacterial and viral pathogens on a large scale and free the indoor air from epidemical contamination like COVID and HMPV.
Filter Odours and Harmful Gases: Human living spaces can be odorous for many reasons and generate deleterious gases. A purifier can be a lifesaver, removing those odors and gases from the air.
Tips for Choosing an Air Purifier for Your Home or Office
Buying an air purifier may not give you the expected protection if not chosen carefully. There are key choices and considerations that a buyer must make before making the buying decision:
Frequency and Cost of Replacing a Filter
Filters require replacement after 6 or 12 months of regular use; for activated carbon filters, the duration is 3 months. Most purifiers provide indicator lights to show the condition of a filter and warn about an imminent replacement. However, you must learn about different filters, costs, and the average replacement frequency to find the one suitable to your budget.
Clear Air Delivery Rate (CADR)
This measure indicates the amount of air a purifier cleanses at its highest capacity. For example, a purifier with a CADR 250 for gases will reduce the amount of harmful gas to a level that is only possible by replacing 250 cubic feet of contaminated air with the same volume of fresh air. The higher the CADR number, the more powerful and faster the purifier is.
Read more: Best Projectors to Create Home Theaters in Bangladesh in 2025
Room Size
Measuring your room’s size beforehand will help you pick the right purifier to cover that room’s space. However, manufacturers often claim more than the actual capacity of their purifiers. As a buyer, you should research well, talk to existing users, check reviews on different platforms, and make sure that your chosen purifiers do what they say.
Noise
A noisy Air Purifier is difficult to live with as it can disrupt the peaceful environment of your room. Check the decibel level of a device on its packaging before buying it.
Types of Filters
There is no single Air Purifier to filter all sorts of pollutants; some are designed to catch biological pollutants like dust and pet dander, and some filter chemical pollutants like carbon monoxide. Air Purifiers can be of different types based on their filtering technologies.
Mechanical Filters: These purifiers use fans to force air through a dense web of fine fibers that catch particles. HEPA filters are an example of a quality fiber web with the finest mesh, as they can catch both microscopic and large particles. Mechanical filters can’t filter gases or odors.
Read more: Best Air Purifying Plants to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution of Home/Office
Carbon Filters: Purifiers using activated carbon filters are effective against certain types of gases except ammonia, formaldehyde, or nitrogen oxide. They can also remove odorous particles from the air. Many air filters come with both mechanical and activated carbon filters to provide increased protection. However, carbon fibers get saturated easily and need frequent cleaning or replacement.
Ozone Generators: These devices use ozone to alter the chemical composition of certain pollutants. They may show results in some cases but are not recommended for indoor use as they can make the air quality more dangerous.
Electrostatic Ionizers: Some purifiers use electrostatic models to charge aerial particles and create a magnetic effect to stick those particles on nearby surfaces or plates attached to the purifiers. These purifiers are also not recommended as they often produce ozone.
Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI): Many purifiers nowadays come with UV lamps to kill airborne pathogens. This feature may increase a purifier's protective measure, but it is often not necessary.
Read more: Effects of Air Pollution on Unborn Children, Neonates, Infants
Photocatalytic Oxidation PCO: Photocatalytic oxidation is also about reacting with harmful pollutants to make them ineffective. But the process may also create harmful byproducts so are not recommended.
Best Air Purifiers Available in Bangladesh in 2025
Most electronic home appliance manufacturers make air purifiers and market them at different prices based on their designs, capacities, and filtration technologies. Here are a few notable air purifiers available in Bangladesh:
Low Range
BEKO Air Purifier P6
BEKO Air Purifier P6 is a simple-looking air-purifying device made by Singer. It features a CADR of 204 m³/hour and a 3-stage filtration system combining a HEPA 13 filter, an activated carbon filter, and a simple pre-filter. The purifier can clean a 323-sf area in 27 minutes and is available for BDT 9,038.
Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Lite with Google Assistant
Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Lite cleans the air in a 120-square-meter room in only an hour. It comes with a CADR of 360m³/h and captures air particles as small as 0.3 microns. It produces low sound, measured at only 33.4dB, which feels more like a whisper. A PM2.5 sensor monitors the inhouse air condition and lets users know when it needs a purification. The purifier is available in Bangladesh at approximately BDT 17,200.
Read more: 9 Best Indoor Water Plants That Require Minimal Care
Mid Range
Philips AC0650 44m² Air Purifier
The Philips AC0650 offers air purification for rooms up to 44 m². It features a CADR of 170 m³/h, ultra-quiet operation (19 dB), Wi-Fi connectivity via the Air+ app, and a compact design. It uses a dual filtration system combining HEPA and pre-filter filters. The purifier is available at BDT 24,790.
1 month ago
Dhaka's air quality 4th worst in the world this morning
Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has again topped the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 212 at 9:15 am am this morning (January 7, 2025).
Today’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy', referring to a severe health threat, according to the AQI index.
When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
Dhaka’s air remains world's worst Monday morning
Vietnam’s Hanoi, India’s Kolkata and Mumbai respectively occupied the second, third and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 281, 251 and 215 respectively.
The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka’s air quality marks ‘unhealthy’ on weekend
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
1 month ago