Thoughts on Zero Carbon Emissions Day

Zero Carbon Emissions Day– designed to give the world a break from fossil fuels and to raise awareness about the harm caused by carbon emissions– was observed on Monday at a time when the world including Bangladesh is still reeling under the debilitating impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Interestingly, emissions saw a sharp decline early in the pandemic, yet global emissions of carbon picked up steadily later. The United Nations Environment Programme estimates that the world would need to cut carbon emissions by 7.6 per cent annually for the next decade to prevent the globe from warming more than 1.5 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels — a goal set in the 2015 Paris climate agreement.  However, this has proved to be quite challenging.  

A recent chain of climate-induced extreme events has sent shockwaves throughout the world. There have been heatwaves in Europe; Ida, Katrina and several devastating hurricanes in North America; blazing forest fires in the Amazon; permafrost in Antarctica; hottest mean average days across the globe. Naturally, the world has begun to hit the panic button. 

And in a desperate bid to give a new lease of life to the Paris Agreement, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Had to launch the Race to Zero, described as a campaign aimed at rallying support from some ‘real economy’ stakeholders — businesses, cities, regions, and investors — for a resilient and sustainable zero carbon recovery that results in inclusive growth.  Forty countries adopted a net-zero target that represents 14.4pc of global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, the ground reality is rather dismal. More than 100 countries, including big emitters like India and China, failed to submit their national commitments to cut emissions within the stipulated deadline.

The world should be more proactive. It is no longer just ‘climate change’ but ‘climate catastrophe’. The countries of the world need to have a plan to be carbon neutral by 2050, and commit to not commissioning any coal-powered plants after that. The demand of many renowned environmentalists is even more radical –achieving carbon neutrality by 2025 and eliminating subsidies on fossil fuels.

We believe that countries that were industrialised first must take the lead in zero-carbon efforts.  Rich nations must take responsibility for climate change, reduce their carbon emissions fast and help poorer countries to face the challenge. The countries which contribute the most towards emissions and have the resources should support those trying to combat climate change. Richer economies must not only drive down their own industrial emissions, but also take responsibility for those generating elsewhere in the world. Bangladesh’s contribution to world’s greenhouses gases, responsible for causing global warming is negligible. Yet its nearly 170 million people are among the world’s most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. The nation is facing ever-rising temperatures, drought and flooding that threaten health, agriculture and water supplies. For Bangladesh the biggest potential is to move from gas to renewable energy such as solar and wind power. 

Bangladesh needs to develop a concerted plan of action to face the problems of climate change and the development challenges they will present. This will require a well-coordinated policy for scientific research and development, focusing particularly on building adaptive capacity. In particular, such capacity needs to be developed in the fields of disaster management, agriculture, water resource management and coastal zone management.

Studies show that countries that have initiated a move towards net-zero emissions record a faster growth rate. Development and growth can be decarbonised. Decarbonisation is vital for the survival of the planet and a vibrant trade ecosystem is essential for maintaining an interconnected global economy. All stakeholders must work together to ensure the supply chain is decarbonised in a way that delivers shared prosperity across the world. There are many benefits for Bangladesh if it publicly commits to becoming carbon neutral by 2050, Bangladesh should adopt a dual-track strategy of accelerating investments in renewable energy while engaging with the world on the principles of equity. Proactive engagement will help Bangladesh attract climate finance, propel economic growth and address climate vulnerabilities.