Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has called the nation's experts and policy-makers for extensive research to find new ways of energy production.
"Producing energy from fossil fuel is not the right way. We have to change the methodology…," he said at a two-day clear energy summit here on Sunday.
Climate change is an issue of a serious concern for mankind because of excessive carbon emissions from fossil fuels, Mr Kamal said.
He said 80 per cent of global energy is coming from fossils that are degrading the environment and everybody globally has been suffering from it.
"We have to work for green energy," the minister said, adding: "We need renewable energy to save humanity, to save earth, to tackle climate change."
He exhorted all to raise voice loudly to reduce carbon emissions with a view to saving the climate and protecting future generations.
Mr Kamal blamed rich countries for emitting carbon in the environment and said they are not doing enough to mitigate the effect.
He inaugurated the summit along with an exhibition focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy, green building and green finance.
The state-owned Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) hosted the event at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, energy, power and mineral resources adviser to the Prime Minister, delivered a speech at the summit.
He said the country lacks adequate land for producing solar energy. So, rooftop home solar panel is the only solution.
"Land is the priciest asset in Bangladesh. And solar power is land-intensive. We have to use its alternative," Mr Chowdhury added.
He observed that access to energy has been more than double in the past one decade.
The adviser said, "Climate change mitigation is not our responsibility as developed countries are responsible for increased carbon emissions."
He urged all to meet climate change challenges for a healthy life in the world.
Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, senior secretary to power division, said energy is being produced from fossils from the past two centuries.
But renewable energy is only being generated from the past 50 years, producing 20 per cent of global energy, he cited.
Mr Kaikaus said, "We should lay emphasis on solar energy, hydropower and solar economy to achieve 8.0 per cent growth of gross domestic product (GDP).
Bangladesh has 5.3 million solar home systems which he identifies as a great achievement.
In his welcome speech, IDCOL executive director Mamood Malik said his institution is playing a pivotal role in producing renewable energy, investing finance and maintaining energy efficiency.
Chaired by economic relations division secretary Monwar Ahmed, of Agence Française de Développement country director Daniel VAIN, Asian Development Bank country director Manmohan Parkash also spoke.
Some 100 stalls of local and international manufacturers and suppliers of renewable energy, green finance and green building technologies are displaying their products and services.
Twenty-five out of 65 exhibitors came from 10 countries across the world.
According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Dhaka has $132 billion of climate-smart investment opportunity from 2018 to 2030 in renewable energy, energy efficiency and green building.
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