Dhaka city at present is witnessing usual traffic congestions. It indicates that the routine life is back after prolonged political unrest coupled with blockades and strikes. Dhaka, one of the most populous cities of the world, is also infamous for its alarmingly high level of pollution. And a large part of Dhaka's population is involved in the process of marketing goods and services to meet the global market demand.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) sources report that Dhaka has been among the most polluted cities compared to the air quality in other mega cities of the world. Especially during the November-March period of the year the air quality of the city deteriorates and reaches the alarmingly high level - at some places with the pollution level reaching up to 274 micrograms of fine particulates per cubic metres of air. The Department of Environment (DoE) officials say the allowable limit of particles is 2.5 micrograms of the matters to 65 micrograms and the allowable sizes of the particles are 10 micrograms to 150 micrograms as per the standards. Hospitals and medical practitioners get during this period of the year an increased number of complaints about respiratory problems including asthma and other bronchial diseases in the urban areas of the country. Experts blame vehicular emissions, emissions from brick kilns, construction activities, dry soil condition, low relative humidity, scanty rainfall and low northwesterly winds are the reasons for the deterioration of air quality in Dhaka during winter. In addition, re-suspension of road dusts from traffic, open burning of materials like leather and tyre, and industrial sources such as cement manufacturing and metal melting also contribute to increased dusts and air pollution in Dhaka and other major cities in Bangladesh. Experts suggest that the excessive pollution may cause premature birth and weaken the immunity system of small children. The air pollution also plays its role in increasing the greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere and the global warming.
Unfortunately, during the dry season of the year Dhaka is not alone facing the high level of air pollution. A number of Chinese cities were again hit by record-high levels of air pollution and as per the Guardian report published on January 20, the authorities in China advised their residents, especially children and the elderly people, to stay indoors to avoid the hazards due to the alarmingly high levels of air pollution there. In these cities pollution levels in the air have reached almost 20 times higher than the permissible limit by the WHO. As per the report, on January 17 morning, the levels of very fine (2.5-microgram size particulates) particulates reached around 500 micrograms per cubic metres in the Chinese capital Beijing. High levels of air pollution have become a regular phenomenon in Beijing and many other major cities of China during the winter inviting a prolonged dense layer of smog for days at a time. The Chinese government has announced that the air pollution problem has been taken very seriously and a plan to improve the air quality by 2017 has been undertaken with specific targets set for the pollution-hit cities.
In a separate report the Guardian on the same day said, quoting a source of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), that the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that were warming the planet earth 'grew 2.2 per cent per year on an average between 2000 and 2010, compared with 1.3 per cent per year from 1970 to 2000.' And interestingly it was found by the scientists that the major drivers of the increased pollution were 'a sharp rise in economic growth and a steady growth in the world's population.' The further alarming information the IPCC reveals is that 'a growing share of carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuel combustion in developing countries is released in the production of goods and services exported.'
A UN draft report found that 'the world's richest countries is increasing outsourcing their carbon pollution to China and other rising economies' and the products manufactured in these countries have been satisfying the market demands of the developed countries. Thus more and more pollution comes from the developing countries compared to industries in the USA and Europe. Experts consider that the conventional ways of accounting for emissions typically based on national inventory sources of pollution therefore may not give the total picture of the emission growth trends. The World Resource Institute experts advocate the need for understanding the 'full life of all the goods and services that we are purchasing and selling.'
There is a growing debate on the impact of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries, especially in the countries of rising economies, due to the trends, changed lifestyles and increasing consumptions. The newly-accumulated wealth made a good section of the population rich in the countries like India, China, Brazil and South Africa. These newly rich people have been consuming more goods, buying new cars and maintaining 'elite' lifestyles. By doing so their contribution to pollution grows. The middle income countries are recording a gradual rise in emissions. However, their per capita pollution and greenhouse gas emission remain well below the emission rates in the USA and Europe.
Various international conferences and climate negotiations are repeatedly calling for global initiatives to ensure investments in low carbon economies' development. But to attain such a goal significant investments are required in developing appropriate technology and converting the existing carbon-intensive production processes to low carbon, but sustainable, production processes. The Guardian on January 17 last reported that the global annual investment was currently about US$ 1.2 trillion. For producing non-carbon (renewable) energy sources approximately US$ 147 billion would be required to be invested a year.
Therefore, the developed economies need to demonstrate their willingness to invest in low-carbon growth technology in the developing countries. But so far we see a tendency to outsource the production and carbon pollution to get an unhindered supply of goods and services from developing countries.
The author is a mining engineer and writes on energy and environment issues. mushfiq41@yahoo.com
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