Dr Mustafa Moinuddin , Alex Trowell
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Policy dialogue on carbon emissions pathways workshops for Bangladesh bring together multiple stake-holders
Photo- Syed Tasfiq Mahmood
Climate change poses a serious threat to the environment and people
around the world. The Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that, without adequate
adaptation and mitigation measures, the world is likely to face severe
and irreversible impacts of climate change in the form of extreme
weather events, loss of bio-diversity, and food insecurity.
Despite being subject to adverse climate-induced effects, we have
witnessed rapid economic growth across Asia, particularly in the last
few decades.
However, this has subsequently brought a rise in energy consumption
and unwelcome greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2005, Asia accounted
for roughly 38% of global emissions. Considering the continuation of the
region’s rapid economic growth, Asia’s emissions are likely to double
by 2050 (IGES, 2014).
It is now paramount that low-carbon actions receive the necessary
support to be mainstreamed into policies at the global, national, and
local levels. By shifting towards low-carbon development, Asia can
mitigate its own vulnerabilities and help stabilise climate change.
LoCARNet – IGES Partnership
Considering the significance of the formulation and implementation of
science-based policies for low-carbon development in the Asian region,
an open network of researchers, research organisations, as well as
like-minded relevant stakeholders -- the Low Carbon Asia Research
Network (LoCARNet) was launched at the East Asia Low Carbon Growth
Partnership Dialogue in 2012.
As a knowledge-sharing network, LoCARNet reflects an awareness of the
importance of facilitating the realisation of a low-carbon and
sustainable society.
The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) of Japan has
been serving as the secretariat of the LoCARNet since 2012. The
secretariat works in co-operation with Japan’s National Institute for
Environmental Studies (NIES), the Japan focal point of this network, to
promote dialogue among researchers and policy-makers in Asian developing
countries.
The goal of LoCARNet is to encourage and enable Asian developing
countries to strengthen their climate and energy policy-making through
the use of their own scientific and research communities. For this,
LoCARNet emphasises quantitative tools and modelling approaches that can
be used for promoting an integrated knowledge-based system.
Carbon Emission Pathways for Bangladesh
In continuation with its activities in Asia, LoCARNet has prioritised
Bangladesh as one of the target countries for initiating capacity
building for science-based climate policymaking.
Whilst addressing the need to adapt to a changing environment,
Bangladesh must also look to form climate policies which steer towards
low-carbon development, not just because the country is set to see rapid
growth, but also to set a precedent for other developing nations and
developed nations to do their part.
To start this thinking on low carbon development, a one-day policy
dialogue on “Carbon Emission Pathways for Bangladesh” was held in Dhaka
on January 24. The event brought together policy-makers, researchers,
academics who demonstrated discussed possible analytical methodologies
and quantitative tools for policy-making for low carbon development.
The event was organised by IGES, in collaboration with the
International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) and
focused on two thematic sessions:
Updating climate change related policies, activities, and research in Bangladesh
This session focused on the existing climate change-related policies
and their implementation in Bangladesh, the status of research on
environment and climate change from an academic perspective, the role of
the civil society in climate policy-making and identifying the gaps in
building synergy between research and policy-making.
Science-based research and integrated climate policy
Science-based methods for analysing energy and emissions were
discussed in detail. Along with overall integrated models,
country-specific quantitative tools such as the newly-developed
Bangladesh 2050 Pathways Calculator and Japan 2050 Low Carbon Navigator
were demonstrated. The session also hosted a presentation on low-carbon
technology assessment and diffusion-related activities between Japan and
Bangladesh.
The policy dialogue had a special presentation on low carbon
technology assessment in Bangladesh. This is an IGES project funded by
the Ministry of the Environment of Japan. The project aims at promoting
low carbon technologies in Bangladesh and at creating possible
opportunities for joint investment projects in the low carbon technology
area.
The Bangladesh 2050 Energy and Emissions Pathways Calculator
Acknowledging the need for data-driven climate forecasts, an
integrated model of energy, emissions, and land-use in Bangladesh has
been developed to identify energy secure pathways for supply and demand
of energy between now and 2050.
The project, developed by a team of researchers at Cardiff University
and funded by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC),
was demonstrated at the policy dialogue as was the Japanese version of
the tool known as the Japan 2050 Low Carbon Navigator.
The Bangladesh 2050 Calculator compiles a huge scientific database
into one single system and then outputs results in easily-interpretable
graphs. “The calculator allows the user to explore all high-level
energy, economic, and emission pathway options that the country faces.
For each possible pathway, the user can investigate likely impacts on
land-use, electricity, energy security, food production, and intake.”
There are currently two versions of the calculator; one is simplified
and user-friendly and the other more detailed with the underlying data
accessible. The latter may be more suited for policy-makers and also to
inform local educators of the effectiveness of their interventions.
The simplified version of the calculator adopts a user-friendly
interface, eliminating all the technical jargon, and is available as an
open-source web tool: http://www.bd2050.org.
The way forward
Good practices and examples of scientific methodologies from other
countries are likely to help relevant stakeholders initiate dialogue and
discussions, which is an essential step in low carbon transformation of
any country. In many countries, particularly developing ones, the
levels of knowledge and capacity can vary quite significantly among
policy-makers, researchers, practitioners, and other stake-holders. This
is especially true for the carbon emissions sector, which is relatively
intangible compared to other developmental activities.
Therefore, partnerships and research-based collaboration such as that
between the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in
Japan, together with the International Centre for Climate Change and
Development (ICCCAD) at the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) are
critical to safeguarding the future of Bangladesh.
Free-to-attend Bangladesh 2050 Pathways Workshops
Engaging the public, stake-holders, and the government of Bangladesh
is a vital step to ensure that the future of Bangladesh is one where the
level of pollution and emissions are controlled.
A series of free-to-attend ‘Bangladesh 2050 Pathways Workshops’ are
to be held in Dhaka from February to March. More information can be
found at http://www.icccad.net/upcoming-events/
Democratic U.S. presidential candidate and Senator Bernie Sanders, left,
and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speak simultaneously as
they discuss issues during the Democratic presidential candidates debate
at the University of New Hampshire in Durham
