- Dhaka is thought about to have a few of the poorest air quality of any city worldwide, the outcome of industrial-scale coal- and wood-burning brick kilns, diesel-powered lorries, and continuous building and construction work.
- At the exact same time, sea-level increase, shrimp growing and lowered water circulation in its significant rivers leave the southwestern part of the nation barren for almost half of the year due to saltwater invasion.
- Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Bangladesh’s recently selected minister of environment, forest and environment modification, has actually stated a 100-day standard program to determine the numerous ecological problems in the nation and possible options to conquer them.
- In an interview with Mongabay, Chowdhury stresses the requirement for strong coordination throughout federal government, political will and management, and increased awareness from the general public to secure the environment and satisfy the nation’s tidy energy objectives.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury was designated Bangladesh’s brand-new minister of environment, forest and environment modification on Jan. 11, 2024. Part of the brand-new federal government that will hold workplace for the next 5 years, he’s currently made extreme choices on nationwide ecological policy. Chief amongst these is the “100-day program” method to dealing with important concerns within an expedited timespan.
A previous chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on ecological affairs, Chowdhury is no complete stranger to a number of the pushing concerns that Bangladesh deals with today, from consistent air contamination to saltwater invasion into the water level, to securing the Sundarbans, the world’s biggest mangrove forest.
Mongabay’s Abu Siddique talked to Chowdhury to discuss his brand-new method to ecological policymaking, the value of water preservation, and the tough concern of why, regardless of a lot effort and financing for tiger preservation, the population of the huge feline in Bangladesh continues to decrease. The following interview has actually been gently modified for length and clearness.
Mongabay: For the very first time, Bangladesh prepares a 100-day target to secure the environment. Why this is? Why are you thinking about minimizing air contamination?
Saber Hossain Chowdhury: Let me share some background on why we must have taken this target. I believe it is to provide an effective message and signal to the public that we understand how crucial the circumstance is. When we react to any crisis considering this, we need to acknowledge that there is a crisis. I believe that is crucial due to the fact that in some cases some federal government authorities can’t be included in that and show that they have actually not done an excellent task. A 100-day program is to recognize the concern of the crisis in the context of the severity of the concerns. We need to be truthful with the general public and let them understand that these issues require to be repaired on a concern basis. Naturally, the 100-day program is not the only thing the ministry is doing. These are the top priorities for which we are putting more focus. And it will likewise act as a basis for what we do over the next 4 and a half years. It is not simply for openness however likewise for making sure responsibility due to the fact that when we complete our term, individuals have a right to do a postmortem on whether we can provide to fulfill the obstacles we deal with today. At the exact same time, it is a clear signal to the different departments and departments under the ministry that we require to act together, thinking about that organization as normal is not a choice for us. We require to step even more.
In this case, we have actually recognized air contamination as the location we focus on one of the most. We have actually currently recognized the sources of indoor and outside air contamination. We have actually begun to act. Amongst them, brick kilns are not the only sources of contamination; dust from building activities and sulfur components in diesel fuel in our transportation system likewise contribute in air contamination. To fix the crisis the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change alone can’t resolve the concern; it ought to be an entire federal government method as the other various ministers are associated with the crisis. We are calling the pertinent companies. What we have actually been doing till now is just inadequate. We need to step up. As a part of this, we have actually currently established a grievance center where we are getting around 400 calls daily. That suggests the issue exists, and individuals are severe about that, and we require to react.
Mongabay: Brick kilns, transportation and the energy sector are the significant sources of air contamination. What is your strategy to enhance these?
Saber Hossain Chowdhury: The task of the Department of Environment under the ministry is to set the requirement, and enforcement is not our obligation. Here, we have 2 elements. For enforcement, we require the cooperation of the regional administration. A couple of days back, at the yearly conference of the district commissioners, we sent out a clear message in this regard. We work together with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, accountable for looking into the physical fitness of automobiles running on the roadway. We require the assistance of the authorities, city mayors and chosen agents in legislatures throughout the nation– that is why I stated this is an overall federal government technique.
Mongabay: Do you believe the current choice to phase out standard bricks to save topsoil will operate in the long term? Due to the fact that the brickmakers aren’t pleased with the choice.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury: The strategy we have is really useful. We have actually targeted 500 brick kilns triggering the majority of the damage. If you take a look at the typical production capability of each brick kiln, it’s about 5 million bricks each year. If we get rid of 500 brick kilns, 2.5 billion bricks will not be produced there. We can change such bricks with alternative bricks made from other products however not utilize topsoil from arable land. According to the data, we are losing 3 billion metric lots of topsoil each year for producing bricks, triggering substantial damage to farming efficiency. If we choose the option, we can conserve the topsoil, and second of all, kilns are accountable for burning coal and wood, triggering air contamination too. By executing the strategy, we will get a twofold benefit. It is not a concern of who enjoys or dissatisfied; we are motivating the brick kiln owners to change their approach and concern a cleaner method. For this, the federal government’s monetary firms will establish various plans to assist them execute the change.
Mongabay: What about the tidy energy target? According to the nationally identified contribution (NDC), Bangladesh is expected to attain a minimum of 20% tidy energy by 2030, however has yet to reach 5%.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury: The NDC, the target in our Integrated Energy Master Plan is to guarantee 40% tidy and eco-friendly energy by 2040. We have a number of occasions in the pipeline. We have a choice to utilize overseas wind and solar energy. The obstacle of solar energy is we do not have sufficient land for that. We are looking for rivers and water bodies to utilize drifting solar energy as an unique possibility. The other location we are taking a look at is changing diesel-run watering pumps to solar-run watering pumps. If we can do this correctly, it will guarantee 5,000 megawatts of tidy energy. It is everything about the political will, and our federal government has actually currently canceled about 10 possible coal-fired power plants in the last couple of years. Bangladesh prepares to do so willingly regardless of our restricted contribution to the worldwide emissions situation.
Mongabay: Cleaning up the river surrounding Dhaka is immediate, as safe and clean water from the surface area source is required to lower groundwater usage. While numerous tasks have actually occurred, consisting of leaving the leather-tanning market, the scenario stays the exact same. Do you have any prepare for this?
Saber Hossain Chowdhury: We are going to implement the ecological requirements for the tannery [that has been] strictly transferred. We have actually just recently checked out the tannery location’s existing place with the market minister, and all of us comprehend the severity of keeping the requirements, as the concern is not just ecological however likewise a matter of public health. The damage is triggered by reducing oxygen levels in the water and increasing heavy metals, which we discovered exceptionally harmful to public health. And we are going to be acting. We can not permit markets to release their effluent into the rivers. We need to control; we have laws, and they are going to be imposed strictly. I think that the federal government has the political will to do that. The other element is the plastic that enters into the river. Our target is to decrease single-use plastics by 90% by 2026. We are dealing with classifications that will go under single-use plastics and present offered options. The issue is when the plastic enters into the water, it ends up being microplastic. When the fish takes in that, it is moved to the body. We have actually been thinking about the concern seriously.
Mongabay: Do you have any strategies to collaborate with the other ministries, specifically the farming ministry, to minimize using chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, as those damage the environment
Saber Hossain Chowdhury: These are the locations we have on our radar. We require to advance one after another. You can anticipate that the environment ministry will be much more active, engaged and focused from now on and from the past. All the concerns you pointed out are harmful to public health and needs to be attended to. Securing public health is among the basic concepts of our Constitution. We are attempting to fix the concern with a holistic method that makes it possible for all the associated companies, though it is among the significant obstacles to the coordination. Policy enforcement, behavioral modifications in the public state of mind are likewise needed to deal with the problems. For this, we have actually prepared to consist of the green problem in our school curriculum to sensitize the more youthful generation so that the modifications originate from the start.
Mongabay: Salinity in southwestern Bangladesh is a substantial issue. Sea-level increase, shrimp growing and decreased circulation from the Ganga River as it streams from India throughout the dry season play significant functions. What strategy do you need to conquer the circumstance?
Saber Hossain Chowdhury: The effect of salinity invasion is not simply on our food security by making the farming lands barren. It likewise affects our females’s health. The nexus in between health and the environment is now ending up being a growing number of clear. We currently had our National Adaptation Plan, which invested 130 interventions, and this is an extremely inclusive procedure. All associated companies, consisting of the U.N., are associated with resolving the crisis, which needs $9 billion a year simply for the adjustment. Presently, the NAP we have does not have any intervention associating with health, and we are checking out consisting of the problem there.
Sea-level increase is inescapable. To deal with the issue, constructing an embankment may be a service, though it is cost-sensitive. Sea-level increase is likewise accountable for human displacement, as lots of people are moving from the location and losing their incomes.
Concerning transboundary river problems, the truth is that we are a downstream nation, and I think we will reach a local effort to resolve the issue through our excellent and cordial relationships with our upstream next-door neighbors.
The unfavorable effects of shrimp farming are extremely clear. The Sundarbans, the other mangrove forest in Bangladesh is situated in the southeastern part of Bangladesh, called Chokoria- Sundarbans, which has actually been ruined by shrimp growing. We need to do an appropriate cost-benefit analysis of shrimp farming and act based upon that. The very same uses to our leather market surrounding to Dhaka. It provides us some export income, however at the very same time, the health expense is extremely high. We have [to do] the analysis and opt for what advantages the nation and individuals.
Mongabay: Ecological concerns are linked with lots of other issues, needing extensive coordination with other ministries. If we desire to make sure appropriate water from upstream, specifically the Ganga and Teesta, throughout the dry season, we require a correct relocation from the Ministry of Water Resources. Water circulation is straight associated to community preservation. What type of cooperation are you anticipating?
Saber Hossain Chowdhury: The working out entities with the nearby nations are distinct. It is essential to guarantee the ecological inputs to the centerpieces so they can raise the problem in the conversation. On our part, we are attempting to provide the very best input.
Mongabay: What is your strategy concerning increasing forest protection and securing the biggest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans? Are you still thinking about social forestry by planting alien types like acacia and eucalyptus to increase forest protection?
Saber Hossain Chowdhury: We have actually currently moved far from the eucalyptus. We have actually embraced policies, and naturally we should have the nerve to acknowledge that some policies have actually not worked well. We ought to have the ability to examine them appropriately. Concerning safeguarding the Sundarbans, a memorandum of understanding was signed in between Bangladesh and India in 2011 to secure the forest collectively. We require to continue the effort for sustainable preservation. At the very same time, we need to try to find sustainable incomes for the 3.5 million individuals depending on the Sundarbans’ resources. Otherwise, the preservation works will not last long.
Mongabay: Concerning tiger preservation, Bangladesh has actually been investing an amazing quantity of cash given that 2004. Bangladesh’s population of Bengal tigers decreased to 118 from 440 in 2004. What are the deficiencies here?
Saber Hossain Chowdhury: I do not wish to return in time and state what we have actually done and to what degree it was suitable. I can state that a brand-new census is presently being carried out, and we have actually set up the greatest variety of video camera traps than in the past. I am confident we will see a boost in the numbers compared to the last study. We will attempt to boost whatever we get in the census results launched in June or July.
Mongabay: Nowadays, ocean resources are the future economy. What is your strategy in this regard?
Saber Hossain Chowdhury: We require to pay a lot more attention to the capacity of the blue economy. The present federal government is really focused in this location, and I see tremendous capacity there. How Bangladesh will enhance in the next 50 years will depend upon exposing that possible to some level. For long-lasting sustainability, I am enthusiastic the nation will take the take advantage of from culturing resources like seaweed and others undersea in our ocean.
Mongabay: We have lots of acts and policies to safeguard the environment. The correct application of those is missing. How do you manage these problems?
Saber Hossain Chowdhury: Execution and enforcement are constantly obstacles. It is not for ecological ones. As the existing federal government is more recent and I have actually been here for the last couple of months, we are discovering quick, executing the laws, and proceeding, which requires assistance from the other associated firms. Most notably, if the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change highly makes sure coordination and management, other companies and ministries will react. Enforcement and execution will be done instantly. Yes, it’s a difficulty, and we should take it on.
Banner image: Saber Hossain Chowdhury communicating with journalism. Image thanks to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.