Environment Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury has announced that 500 out of the 1,000 illegal brick kilns surrounding Dhaka will be dismantled as part of the upcoming 100-day programme to combat air pollution. He made this statement during a press conference after a courtesy meeting with French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupui at his office in the Secretariat on Wednesday (January 24) afternoon. Also present during the meeting were Guillaume Audrein de Kerdrel, First Counselor and Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy in Dhaka, Economic Adviser Julien Deur, AfD Country Director in Bangladesh Cecilia Cortes, and others.   Minister Chowdhury emphasised the importance of identifying pollution sources before taking action.   He expressed the intention to issue alerts when air quality poses health risks, advising the public to stay indoors for non-essential tasks and follow WHO recommendations on wearing masks.   Minister Chowdhury outlined the government's commitment to addressing various contributors to pollution, including cement-sand transportation and construction work in Dhaka. He stressed the need for collective cooperation and announced that the 100-day program details would be revealed the following day (Thursday).   When asked about the number of illegal brick kilns and the progress of demolitions, the minister referred to court estimates of approximately 2,000 illegal brick kilns.   He explained the focus on identifying permanent chimneys around Dhaka and set a target to dismantle an average of three to four brick kilns per day, with the goal of crushing 500 brick kilns over 100 working days.   Regarding discussions with France, the minister highlighted climate and environment as crucial aspects of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and France.   He deeply mentioned the interest of the French President in a climate adaptation agreement between the two countries, and the ongoing discussions focused on identifying priorities for that agreement.  

UN human rights experts have called on the Chinese government to provide information about nine Tibetans imprisoned for their peaceful efforts to protect Tibet’s environment, which is crucial to the entire region. In a statement on Thursday, the three experts — the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; the Special Rapporteur on freedom of assembly and association; and the Special Rapporteur on human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment — admonished the Chinese government to provide details about the reason for detention and the health conditions of the nine Tibetans, all of whom were detained between 2010 and 2019. The Special Rapporteurs also emphasized that Chinese authorities should provide adequate medical care and permit the Tibetans’ families to visit them. They also stated that the lack of information shared by Chinese authorities could be interpreted as a “deliberate attempt” to hide the environmental defenders from global attention. “We welcome the Special Rapporteurs’ forceful challenge to Chinese authorities’ persecution of environmental defenders,” said Kai Mueller, Executive Director of the International Campaign for Tibet Germany. “China must reverse its dismal record and prove its claimed prioritization of environmental protection is more than a global smoke screen for unfettered exploitation of the Tibetan Plateau. It must prove that by releasing these nine activists and ending its broad persecution of Tibetan environmental defenders.” Mueller added: “The international community should raise these cases of persecution during the upcoming Universal Periodic Review of China at the United Nations Human Rights Council early next year.” The nine Tibetans identified in the release, Anya Sengdra, Dorjee Daktal, Kelsang Choklang, Dhongye, Rinchen Namdol, Tsultrim Gonpo, Jangchup Ngodup, Sogru Abhu and Namesy, were all detained after they protested illegal mining activities or exposed the poaching of endangered species. While some were handed prison sentences of up to 11 years, the length of sentences imposed in six cases, namely against Dhongye, Rinchen Namdol, Tsultrim Gonpo, Jangchup Ngodup, Sogru Abhu and Namsey, have not been made public by the Chinese government. As the UN experts underscored, the extent to which the imprisoned Tibetans had access to legal representation, and whether any of them have been provided with medical assistance while in prison, also remain unclear. Over the last two decades, as the Chinese government has scaled up mining, damming, urbanisation projects and other infrastructure across Tibet, environmental defenders have faced mounting persecution for their efforts. Source: tibet.net

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, on Saturday said the UN report (IPCC AR 6 Report) reemphasises that development is our first defence against climate change. The report reinforces the scientific view that carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gases (GHG) that need to be drastically reduced to achieve the global temperature goal as agreed in the Paris Agreement. Addressing the plenary session at G7 Ministers' Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment in Sapporo, Japan on Saturday, he said the global goal of reaching net zero by 2050 requires enhanced descaling of emissions by the developed countries. He said this would provide space for countries like India to achieve the development required for its people, which will provide necessary defence against the impacts of climate change, environmental degradation and pollution. IPCC AR 6 report is the Sixth Assessment Report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Yadav said since the advent of the Industrial Revolution, there has been enormous disproportionate emission of GHGs to achieve economic growth and development. "Over-exploitation of natural resources has also led to widespread environmental degradation..." "To save our planet from the challenges of climate change, pollution, and loss of biodiversity, we need collective action guided by the founding principles of the Rio Conventions," he said, adding, "We have made some progress collectively through the process of UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)... However, there is an urgent need for greater action to deal with the three challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution." The Union minister said developing countries also need the means of implementation, finance and technology. He said, "We do hope that the developed countries will make good their commitments on finance for combatting climate change and provide for the same for dealing with the environmental degradation and biodiversity loss." Yadav said, "Our actions have so far focused on creating a policy framework to combat climate change. It is time that governments across the world focus on making this a participative process at the level of individuals." 

A recent report has concluded that China has emitted more carbon dioxide in the past eight years that U.K had emitted since the industrial revolution. China has been the largest emitter of annual greenhouse gases since 2006 and its total energy related emissions are twice as that of the second largest emitter; making it the source of one third of emissions pumped into the environment every year across the world. The county’s energy related emissions have manifold to more than 80% from 2005 to 2019 as well. These reports come at a time when global leaders were in Egypt attending United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27). A prime agenda of the summit was to have nations agree to reduce global carbon emissions are at an all-time-high although the leader have foundlittle respite in sight. China in specific, is alone responsible each year for 30% of all global emissions, while also ever increasing its emissions. This non-compliance also come at the backdrop of China in all probability backing away from paying a ‘climate change reparation’ to vulnerable countries severely affected by its environmental degradational activities. However, it is not only emission concerns that needs attention in China’s unregulated development trajectories. China is also the largest source of marine debris as well as the worst culprits of illegal fishing and the largest importer of unregulated wildlife and timber. For instance, in the African nation of Mozambique, Chinese firms have been purchasing banned indigenous timber; though only after Chinese entities had managed to bribe public officials in the country for sourcing of the ecological destructive product. Beijing’s quest to attain a hegemony has promoted unsafe industrial practices and have proved to be detrimental to the global environment as well. Its ecologically threatening industrial processes has made it the world’s largest emitter of mercury and neurotoxin. This has made China the leader in creating a conducive scenario for mercury related toxic air pollutants, risking the threat of a severe air pollution crisis. Not only this, the Chinese Communist Party’s developmental goals have led it accelerate Chinese owned subsidiary’s plans in coal burning as well. These developmental expeditions have also made the country the biggest producer and exporter of plastic products also causing one third of the globe’s plastic waste alone.According to a report, China’s plastic waste is also unmanaged.The reports stated that these plastic wastes are also directly dumped into the environment without any non-polluting mechanisms in place, leading to millions of tonnes directly affecting marine life as well as causing a severe threat to island nations that face majority of the environmental burden. China’s unsustainable ecological model is not only dangerous for its domestic residents, but is even more so lethal for vulnerable countries that face an existential threat due to climate change concerns. Its Belt and Road Initiative is arguably the largest economic project ever undertaken, and more so can also be considered as an instigator of such disastrous ecologically degrading mechanisms. The implementation of the projects under the ambit of the initiative lacks a clear environmental policy that safeguards concerns relating to the ecology. However, the it is the host country that often finds itself as a victim to environmental degradations due to lack of safeguards in the projects. Many local populations have been displaced to such projects forcing them to migrate into camps that lack basic facilities required even if meant for a temporary time period. The short-sighted deals are causing local residents to resent Chinese investments that have caused such miserable circumstances for locals residing in such areas for decades. These projects have also gone on to pollute water sources significantly like in the case of Gambia. The major reason for the growing tensions within different Gambian communities against Chinese firms has been due to widespread contamination of the waters in the Gunjur beach. This has caused serious repercussions for local as well as the nation government. The BRI mega-projects run through at least 1,700 sensitive biodiversity sites and has threatened around 265 species in its process of building infrastructural projects. A study published in Nature Sustainability suggested BRI projects may lead to “permanent environmental degradation” due to ecological degradations caused by pollution, habitat loss, and wildlife deaths, amongst other factors. These factors combined altogether indicate towards China’s lack of initiative as well as interest in reducing its emissions and pollution that indeed has detrimental effects on vulnerable countries across the world but more specifically towards island countries. If China’s degrading actions are to continue, it would not be far-fetched to state that the global ambition of mitigating against climate change would unfortunately fail in its goal. The Belt and Road initiative in specific, must be dealt with in more firmness by host countries, seeking more responsible behaviour by Chinese firms as well as guarantees that the consequences of the infrastructural projects would be reprimanded by China. China’s global ambitions are not in sync with the global agenda of mitigating environmental concerns; the fact that it has emitted the most amount of greenhouse gases annually in the past fifteen years is indicative of alarming Chinese intensions. These can only be delt if nations act collectively to counter Chinese developmental strategies. Hence like-minded countries concerned about environmental degradation through international forums must seek to call out China’s detrimental plans that is endangering the existence of not only various other species, but also the existence of human life as well going forward.   Source: IFFRAS  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Wednesday) asked the authorities concerned to lay utmost emphasis on protection of the environment during adaptation and implementation of any development project.   "Everybody has to pay attention with highest priority to the environment during executing any development project. Projects have to be implemented with keeping the option of protecting reservoirs, allowing adequate green space and rainwater harvesting," she directed.    The premier passed the directives while witnessing architectural designs of different development projects at her official residence Ganabhaban, said a press release of the Prime Minister's Press Wing.  She also directed the authorities concerned to keep vigilance so that no industrial establishment is constructed here and there. "Industrial establishments will be set up in specific industrial zones in each area. Unplanned industrial establishments cannot be built at random places and this issue must be taken seriously," she added.    Emphasizing on increasing diversity in building industrial enterprises, the Prime Minister said agro-processing and information technology devices related industries should be given highest priority.       The head of the government also stressed increasing exports and to this end, she mentioned about providing subsidies to small industries.    Chief Whip of Parliament Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury, Awami League Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap, MP, Prime Minister's Office Senior Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Housing and Public Works Secretary Md. Shahid Ullah Khandaker and concerned officials were present.    The development projects presented before the premier are - construction of multi-storied residential buildings for government officials and employees in Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar proposed by Ministry of Housing and Public Works and RAJUK, construction of Sheikh Hasina International Convention Center at Shibchar on the Jazira side of the Padma Bridge, conservation of flood flow zone at Turag River and compact township development and Keraniganj waterfront smart city construction. Source: BSS AH

India, which has always remained the hub of environment protection and climate justice, has renewed its vigour and focus on these concerns with firm determination in recent times, according to a Saudi Arabian newspaper. Though contemplations on the state of the environment have remained a mainstream conversation topic in India, it was incredibly rare to formulate specific time-bound targets that the nation had to take to address these burning issues. That mindset has undergone a radical shift in the last half a decade, reported Saudi Gazette. India's renewable energy capacity has increased by more than 250 per cent within six years, which is a rapid pace of growth for a developing country with 140 crore individuals. Notably, India is now one of the top five countries in the world in terms of installed renewable energy capacity. Following its usual path where economy and ecology can both co-exist, India is now setting an example for the world through its means to protect the environment without blocking infrastructural projects. While no other country has been able to sufficiently meet the Paris Climate Agreement goals, India has been a ray of hope achieving targets much ahead of the timeline. The mechanisms like the International Solar Alliance - based in Gurugram- demonstrate how the country has taken upon itself the responsibility of guiding the world towards negotiations on sensitive environmental treaties and agreements. Moreover, reflecting its global vision, the country has also formed the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure initiative aimed at protecting small island nations from the existential threat of rising global temperatures as well as other related natural disasters As part of the World Environment Day celebrations in India, the government issued a clarion call to increase the use of ethanol blending within the country. With a resolution to meet the target of 20 per cent blending in petrol by the year 2025, the government is focusing on creating a large impact on the environment as well as the lives of farmers. To achieve this goal, E-100 projects have been started on a pilot level in different parts of the country and the government also issued a notification allowing for oil companies to sell 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol from the fiscal year 2023, which will result in further nurturing of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications for higher ethanol blends E-12 and E-15, reported the media outlet. However, numerous achievements of the last half a decade have only pushed the country towards greater goals. At the recent COP 26, India launched the Green Grids Initiative -- One Sun One World One Grid -- the first international network of global interconnected solar power grids, aimed at enhancing the viability of solar projects as well as reducing carbon footprint by a significant margin. Not only are these steps aimed at environmental protection but will also boost green investments and create millions of jobs, according to Saudi Gazette. Source: ANI

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has urged Kuwait to establish a forum of ‘South-South Finance Development’ for creating more favorable environment for Bangladesh businesspersons in the oil-rich country. He made the request during a bilateral meeting with his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah on the sidelines of International Conference titled “Central and South Asia: Regional connectivity, Challenges and opportunities” in Tashkent on Friday, a foreign ministry press release said in Dhaka on Sunday. During the meeting, Dr Momen also urged Kuwait to recruit more Bangladeshi skilled workers while assured Bangladesh’s willingness to continue its peacekeeping troops there. The Bangladesh foreign minister also proposed to assist Dhaka under Kuwait Development fund. Dr. Momen expressed his gratitude to Kuwait government for supporting resolution on Human Right Commission to repatriate Rohingyas to Myanmar. Both the ministers expressed their happiness at the level of existing bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Kuwait. The Kuwait foreign minister proposed to overview relationships and to form a Joint Committee at Foreign Ministers level. He also sought Bangladesh’s assistance and cooperation in strengthening health institutions, food security, education, IT and cyber security of both the brotherly countries. The two leaders expressed their willingness to visit each other’s country when the corona pandemic situation improves.  Source: BSS AH

Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin has tested positive for coronavirus. The minister underwent Covid-19 test and received the test report today, said Dipangkar Bor, senior information officer of the ministry. He will be admitted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) as per the instruction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The minister urged people of the country to pray for his speedy recovery. The death tally from coronavirus in Bangladesh reached 3,513 on Wednesday with the death of 42 more patients in the last 24 hours. Besides, 2,995 new cases were confirmed during the period testing 14,751 samples, that took the total cases to 2,66,498. Source: UNB AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the engineers to adopt development plans protecting environment alongside maintaining their standard. “You (engineers) have been playing the biggest role in implementing our development projects. So, you’ll have to adopt development plans keeping in mind environment and ecology,” she told the inaugural function of the 59th convention of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) at its headquarters in the capital Saturday afternoon. Reports BSS. “Whenever we take the plan of a project we should bear in mind that arable land and water bodies must not be damaged in anyway,” she added. Putting emphasis on saving the rivers, the Prime Minister said all the civilizations in the world had been built on riverside. The inaugural function of the convention was presided over by IEB President Engineer Md Abdus Sabur, while President of IEB, Dhaka centre, Md Wali Ullah gave welcome speech and General Secretary of IEB, Dhaka centre, Engineer Md Shahadat Hossain Shiplu gave vote of thanks. IEB Secretary Engineer Khandker Manjur Morshed also spoke on the occasion. Stressing the need for taking into consideration the protection of environment before formulating plans, she said, “Protection of water-bodies is urgently needed. These (water bodies) can help keep the environment fine and can be used in case of any mishap like the Chawlkbazar fire.” The premier regretted that nowadays the canals and ponds of Dhaka city cannot be found as no initiative was taken at that time in this regard, adding, “We have already asked the authorities concerned to undertake plans for saving water bodies.” She asked the engineers to formulate plans to protect water bodies ahead of construction of highways or implementing housing projects. Highlighting the government’s initiatives to make Bangladesh a digital country she said, “We have already launched satellite on the space. In the future, we can conduct survey on space and we should take plans so that we can launch satellite by ourselves”. “We should keep it in mind that our land is limited but the population is vast,” she said adding that plan should be taken to ensure the optimum use of limited resources. Putting stress on conducting cutting-edge researches, she said that research is essential in every sector, saying that Bangladesh is now self-reliant in food production. “When we assumed office in 1996, there was no fund for research and hence we started allocating money for this purpose,” she said asking all including engineers to give more attention to identify the sectors where research is necessary. “The wheels of developments had been stopped after the assassination of the Father of the Nation on August 15 in 1975. The gruesome killing had initiated the politics of killing, coup and conspiracy,” the premier said. “Bangladesh is now becoming a ‘role model of development in the world due to huge development work carried out by the government,” she said. Highlighting huge development works by her government in the last 10 years, she reiterated her government’s firm determination to make Bangladesh a developing country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041. The premier also asked all concerned to take initiatives for speedy industrialization keeping the arable land protected, and said “We are now implementing 100 special economic zones to attract foreign and local investment to accelerate the pace of industrialization.” She said “We are making progress in the construction works of the Padma Brige with our own funding and have started constructing metro rail project which will contribute to ease traffic jam in Dhaka city. We will also start construction of the second Padma Bridge.” She said, “We have limitation of resources. Huge research works are necessary to develop machineries meant for construction at lesser cost. You people (engineers) should come forward to innovate alternate ideas to construct houses at lower cost, and technology as well”. The premier also stressed need for construction of rail and waterways alongside constructing roads to lessen the woes of the people. Sheikh Hasina said, “The registration of land for Engineers Institution Headquarters was given at symbolic price in 1996. A total of Taka 28 crore had been donated for its construction.” “We have provided 72 bighas of land at symbolic price in 1997 for Engineering Staff College and donated Taka 46 crore for its implementation” she continued. “We have allocated land from KDA (Khulna Development Authority) for IEB Khulna Centre. Land was also allocated for its centers at Rangadia, Mymensingh, Faridpur, Dinajpur and Chattogram, and Feni and Cox’s Bazar sub-centers,” she said. Regarding some demands of the IEB, the premier said, “I have listened to all your demands. Grade-1 has already been given to chiefs of IEB’s seven engineering organizations—.” “You (engineers) had played vital roles to reconstitute the war-ravaged Bangladesh in response to the call of the Father of the Nation after independence. Bangabandhu had been able to give the country a strong footing in only three and a half years,” she said. The theme of the convention is “Engineering Excellence: Earth to Space,” and its subject is “Engineers for Leadership in Sustainable Infrastructure Development in Bangladesh.” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over certificates to two gold medal winners- Engineer Deepak Kanti Das and Engineer Kabir Ahmed Bhuiyan. Matiul Islam, son of gold medal winner late Engineer Md Khijir Khan, received the certificate on behalf of his father. IEB’s Dhaka centre received the award of the best centre while, Pabna sub-centre as the best sub-centre. IEB, Australia got the award of the best overseas centre and IEB’s Computer Engineering Department got the best departmental award. AH

SHUJAN Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder said, the favorable environment that is needed for healthy competition in election- is not yet created. Ensuring level playing field for all is prerequisite for holding a participatory election. But that is not done yet. He claimed these at a press conference at the National Press Club on Monday. Badiul Alam Majumder said, many candidates are not able to perform their campaign activities due to attack, case, obstacle and harassment. We urged for dialogue for election. The dialogue was held lately but no understanding was made. Our notion is that the eleventh national parliament election is going to be participatory. He said, some could not go for campaign due to hindrance. There is huge interest among the voters but due to violence fear and confusion have created that whether they can exercise their voting rights or not. If the voters cannot go to the vote centers freely then that election may not be called participatory election. That election cannot be termed neutral election. AH