Stock-taking of emissions

In the run-up to the submission of a crucial document on the country's climate impact mitigation efforts, Bangladesh has prepared a draft report styled "Bangladesh: First Biennial Update Report", to be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by June 30. The report and its endorsement are crucial to Bangladesh, as it portrays a dispassionate picture of the country's climate situation in 2012-19. As the report observes, the per capita emission level witnessed a 31.48 per cent rise to 1.29 tonnes in 2019, from 0.98 tonne of carbon dioxide in 2012. The ministry concerned says the rate indicates a normal 'emission increase' befitting a developing country like Bangladesh. The occasion was the final workshop on the country's biennial update report which is slated for submission to UNFCCC. The UNFCCC plays a vital role for the developing countries, including Bangladesh, in availing climate change finances.
Although the emission level of Bangladesh is low compared to that of the highly developed countries, due to the lack of legal and other loopholes, as well as restrictions, Bangladesh at times is considered a country with high CO2 emission level. A developing country eying graduation from LDC status, it has to embark on fast industrialisation, which might lead to emission of greenhouse gases in a greater volume. In this regard Bangladesh is stuck in a dilemma. Moreover, it has to steer through many difficult tests to prove its pro-green stance. Although the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has argued that the increased emission rate indicates a normal emission rise for a developing country like Bangladesh, its minister Md Shahab Uddin in his chief guest's speech at the final workshop emphasised the continuation of the nation's efforts to combat climate change. According to him, the greenhouse gas emission in Bangladesh is set to increase when it turns into a developed country. But the nation should limit the level of greenhouse gas emission by using environment-friendly technologies.
Of late, going green has become the buzzword for all sectors committed to become environment-friendly. As Bangladesh has yet to become fully industrialised, it stands the chance of growing into a country prepared to adopt all environment-friendly steps. It should be kept in mind that by engaging in collaborative efforts, the nation can address the challenges of climate change through mitigation and adaptation efforts. Mitigation programmes mentioned in the Nationally Determined Contributions deserve to be attached utmost priority.
That Bangladesh is presenting the first draft biennial update report on its climate change situation, along with an inventory of national greenhouse gas emission and relevant mitigation activities is a major event. The event comes against the backdrop of developments related to the country's growing vulnerability to climate change-related adversities, and the fallout of greenhouse gas emissions. At this critical phase, the nation can only eagerly look forward to the avoidance of a conflict between its development options and an effectively working eco-friendliness. Apart from the prime imperative of cutting down on emissions, arranging climate funds also deserves to be in focus. The Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) is there to finance programmes and measures tied to preventing greenhouse gas emissions. Bangladesh ought to be proactive in its efforts to use the mechanism of getting access to its rightful share of climate funds.