Environmental Concerns and Sustainable Development: Bangladesh Ainun Nishat Ph.D. Vice Chancellor, BRAC University

Transcription

1 Environmental Concerns and Sustainable Development: Bangladesh Ainun Nishat Ph.D. Vice Chancellor, BRAC University

2 Introduction There is a general consensus all over the world on need to integrate environmental concerns in development planning and management to ensure sustainability. Sustainable development required serious attention to environmental issues. In 2000, the UN had set 8 MDG, which is an agenda for improving the human condition by The 7 th MDG deals with the environmental sustainability. Environmental sustainability and human well being are very closely related. Environmental sustainability is a must for any strategy to ensure social justice. In this presentation, we classify environmental issues that effects Bangladesh, on the basis of their origin under Global, Regional and National categories and suggest institutional framework for addressing them at national level, regional level and global levels.

3 This presentation has five parts: Part I Part - II Part - III Part IV Part V Environmental concerns : Global Issue Environmental concerns : Regional Issue Environmental concerns : National Issue Environmental Governance in Bangladesh Institutional frame work for South Asia and Concluding Remarks

4 Part I Environmental concerns : Global Issue

5 Global Issues Climate Change and Climate Variability Ozone layer depletion

6 Climate Change is real Climate change and climate variability are now real. A stable situation is not likely to be achieved soon. The IPCC FAR(2007), concluded that global warming is unequivocally the result of human activities. Scientific consensus is clear; now the whole world collectively needs to urgently focus on what to do about it. Climate change has risen to the top of international policy agenda. Intense negotiations at global level are going on under aegis of UNFCCC. All countries will be adversely affected.

7 Issues in global debate CO2 emission has increased from 280 ppm before industrial revolution to about 390 ppm. May reach 600+ ppm by end of this century. Global average temperature is already up by about 1.0c; it may go up to by 6.0c as CO2 concentration goes up. GHG level must not exceed 350/450 ppm and temperature must be controlled at 1.5/2.0c. Also the peak in emission should be controlled by 2018/ Are these likely to be achieved? What were the goals set in Bali in 2007? What has been the achievement in Copenhagen? What has been the achievement in Cancun? Will the negotiation be completed and a legally binding Agreement be finalized in Durban in December 2011?. by 2012 in Doha(?). When it will be operationalized? Will developing countries, specially the LDCs be able to cope with adverse impacts of Climate Change and Climate variability?

8 Global temperature change We are here

9 The Past is NOT the Future Current Trend Un-quantified Risk The Past is the Future

10 Probable adverse impacts Hydro-meteorological events Increase in annual rainfall Increase in droughts Occurrence of short duration heavy rainfall Rainfall at unexpected time Rise in temperature Increase in cyclones and storm surge events Other Impacts Sea level rise Increase in salinity in coastal belt Inundation of coastal plains Snow melting and GLOFs Increase in river and coastal erosion Increase in vector borne disease

11 Where are our concerns North: Snow melting and dry ski slopes Floods Hurricanes and typhoons Impact on ecosystem Sea level rise Health issues Malaria/ Dengue Heat waves Threat from Migrants Global food shortage Capacity to cope with disasters Reduction of green house gas emission level =========================== Compromise with life style South: Food and livelihood security Urban drainage problems Floods and cyclone : forecasting and warning dissemination Improvements in IWRM including management of transboundary rivers on a basis approach. Salinity increase & sea level rise River and coastal erosion Disaster management Health related concerns Threat of migration [Understanding impact on ecosystem] =========================== Question of future survival

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13 SIDR s route Entire coastal belt is vulnerable to Storm Surges and Cyclones.

14 Impact of AILA

15 Gabura Union, Shyamnagar, Sathakhira: No dry place.

16 People migrate from Kalabogi Village, Sutarkahli, Dacope.

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18 Flood Flood Flood Inundation Inundation Depth Depth Map: Depth Map: Map: Projection Projection Year Year Year Flood Inundation Sea Sea Level Level Sea Depth Rise Level Rise Map 3214 Rise 88 cm Existing cm10 cmcondition No Sea Level Upstream Rise flow: Average Upstream Year flow: (Year Average 2000 Year flow) (Year 2000 flow) Land Land Level Level (m (m PWD) Land Level (m) PWD) Inundation Inundation Depth Depth (m) (m) (m) Above Above

19 Vulnerability to Flooding

20 SLR and Salinity Intrusion

21 Parameters: drought, flood and cyclone

22 Summery of major concerns for Bangladesh Threat of food security; Threat of climate change displaced persons and migrants; Increase in intensity and frequency of natural disasters; increase of salinity in coastal belt; Stable situation is not likely to be achieved. Adaptation is priority of Bangladesh Urgent and bold steps in Mitigation at global level

23 Part - II Environmental concerns : Regional Issue

24 Regional Issues Water regulation in upper reaches and concerns in trans boundary water management. Deforestation in watershed. Cross boundary pollution Threat of oil spillage Fishing in the bay

25 Ganges Basin, Brahmaputra Basin & Meghna Basin

26 Common Rivers

27 Dying Gorai

28 World Conference on Recreating South Asia: Democracy, Social Justice and Sustainable Development, New Delhi, February 2011, The Sundarbans is under threats Top dying disease of Sundari tree attributed to declining freshwater supply

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31 Summery of major concerns for Bangladesh Integrated water resources management (IWRM) practices that looks into spatial as well as temporal distribution of water is urgently required. Basin wise approach, including watershed management be followed for IWRM practices. Progress in trans boundary related issues has been very slow, so far; urgent progress is essential for Bangladesh; 92% of water enter Bangladesh from outside its territory. Present institutional set up is not working.

32 Part - III Environmental concerns : National Issue

33 Some National Issues Population and bearing capacity: out migration Rapid Urbanization and expansion of slums Food security, water security, energy security, health security and security for livelihood under threat Agriculture loosing sustainability Depletion of Forest resources Disappearance of Wetland and Fisheries Loss of Biodiversity and medicinal plants Degradation of natural resources base Desertification process

34 Sustainability Indicators Status of sustainability indicators in Bangladesh: all show a negative trend Land Degradation and loss of soil quality Loss of Wetland Degradation of Forests and Loss of Forest Lands Loss of Biodiversity Pollution Ground water contamination with arsenic Climate change and vulnerability Unplanned urbanization

35 Soil Salinity Intrusion

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37 Population projection 150 Population (millions) Rural Urban

38 Land Degradation It occurs in the form of Soil quality loss due to salinity intrusion, fertility decline, nutrient imbalance Top soil loss through erosion Percen tag e of org anic m aterial Madhupur Tract Barind Tract Northeast Hilly Areas World Conference on Recreating South Asia: Democracy, Social Justice and Sustainable Development, New Delhi, February 2011,

39 World Conference on Recreating South Asia: Democracy, Social Justice and Sustainable Development, New Delhi, February 2011, Arsenic Disaster Occurrence of Arsenic Arsenic contamination in Bangladesh is possibly the largest mass poisoning case in the World 41 districts out of 64 have high arsenic conc. in ground water 60% of the total country is contaminated The whole southwest region is severely affected Some eighty million people are at risk

40 Part IV Environmental Governance and Bangladesh

41 Environmental Conservation Act 1995 EIA has been made compulsory for all projects/ interventions through 1995 ECA; elaborated through 1997 Rules and Regulations; Four colour codes for projects : Green project, Orange I Orange II, and Red. MoEF and DoE to administer the provisions of 1995 Act and 1997 rules and regulations. EMP is submitted but is not followed and monitored; ETPs have been set up by some industrialists but they are not operated properly.

42 Some more issues in Water Management Provision of Environmental flow is not made. No water is left out in rivers for nature. Interests of Aquatic life and Navigation is ignored. Concerns are about ownership of rivers and its management. Development of flood management dykes have cut off the rivers from floodplains. Coastal embankment and drainage congestion in Khulna Jessore area is a major developmental debate. Revenue collection through leasing, is still main focus in common property resource management, in wetlands.

43 Some issues in Forest and biodiversity management 17% of land of the country belongs to Forest department. Possibly the area of forest is is less than 6%. Forest area is shrinking. Revenue collection is still main focus of teh Forest Department. Introduction of fast growing trees has damaged local biodiversity. Forest Protected areas are declared under the 1973 Wild life Act. Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) are declared under Environmental Conservation Act of But conservation activities are still in infancy. Management practices in the Sundarbans are being looked into? Rights of forest dwellers and indigenous people are not protected. Local robust varieties of cultivars that can provide solutions to the demand s of salinity tolerant, drought tolerant and flood tolerant varieties of crops have not been conserved in situ. Introduction of GMOs may be threat to the independence of local farming communities in production of seeds for their own use. Medicinal plants and traditional healing practices are on wane. IPR and ABS issues are not understood. Folk wisdom and traditional practices not being conserved.

44 Land degradation and Desertification Productivity of agricultural land are on decline. Organic content is getting reduced. More inorganic fertilizers are being used to maintain productivity level. Micro nutrient deficiencyboron, sulphur, zinc etc. Is reported. River bank erosion is affects the poor people resulting in out migration.

45 Response to Climate Change Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, Six pillars (Themes) of BCCSAP Food security, social protection & health security Comprehensive disaster management Infrastructure development Research and knowledge management Mitigation and low carbon development Capacity building institutional and human Capacity building for such activities are essential.

46 Summing up of issues at national level Populations increase is possibly the main driver for environmental degradation. In a land hungry country, incorporation of environment concerns in development activities and resource management may appear to a tall order but common people are aware of its necessity. Considerations for environmental governance is still not followed in practice. Weak local government institutions make it more difficult. We have excellent policies Water Policy, Forest Policy, Agriculture Policy, Environment Policy, etc. We excellent documents NEMAP, NCS, NBSAP, NAP. Bangladesh is signatory of all relevant MEAs. We have excellent experience in community based approach in resource management. Proper environmental governance is definitely possible. Faithful implementation of National laws, rules and regulation is urgent.

47 Part V Institutional frame work for South Asia and Concluding Remarks

48 Scope of regional cooperation Advanced countries in the region may support others in pollution control and effective management of environment at national level. With climate change, the monsoons (and hence droughts and floods) are expected to become more intense and less predictable. Coping with these mounting extremes in the river basins of South Asia will require more basin wide information to predict and warn against floods, for example. It calls for more basin wise river management, with coordinated capacity to lower flood peaks and augment low season flows.

49 Cooperation among South Asian Countries in global negotiation process.. Complex Negotiation process major groups/ sub groups are G 77 and China, EU, Umbrella Group, Environmental Integrity Group, LDCs, AOSIS, Africa, GURULAC, OPEC Group dynamics is complex. Will BASIC emerge as a formal negotiation group. Will Bangladesh and Maldives along with Nepal initiate a Most Vulnerable Country (MVC) group Can SAARC be an informal group, to start with.

50 Possible position of South Asian Countries Build capacity to be recipient of funds along with technological support. Join hands in development of climate change tolerant varieties of cultivars and development of appropriate cropping pattern. Countries like India may lead in development of renewable energy (wind, solar, tidal, geothermal etc) in the region. Putting emphasis on disaster preparedness and disaster management;

51 South Asia s possible approach at global level All countries to take responsibilities for mitigation, on the basis of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities, supported by finance and technology by developed countries. The proposal to mobilize $100 b a year by 2020 for mitigation only is a puzzle. How can Adaptation be forgotten in post 2015 period? Funds for Adaptation be available on a prioritized basis. Urgent attention on issues related to Climate Change displaced persons. Review the Cancun Agreement and exchange views to develop common position on as many issues as possible. Work towards a legally binding instrument.

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