Eco-tax on polluters on cards

The government is actively considering to include 'Polluters pay principle' in the taxation rule to make the polluters responsible for tax payment according to the degree of pollution.
State Minister for Environment and Forests Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday said this while he was inaugurating a workshop on 'Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory' at National Press Club in the city.
“We are trying to introduce the 'polluter pay principle' to make the parties more responsible which produce more pollution and imposing additional tax on them for the damage done to the natural environment,” he said.
Once the rule comes into effect, the government may impose eco-tax on polluters, which essentially reduces the emission of GHGs, he said.
Department of Environment (DoE) organised the workshop to impart knowledge to officials of the department to prepare reliable GHG inventory.
Bangladesh, as a member of the UNFCCC, needs to make GHG inventory as part of Second National Communication (SNC) with the Convention according to dates set by the Conference of Parties (COP).
Dr Hasan said Bangladesh with only 0.06 gigatons of emission per capita, is one of the lowest GHG emitters. But, the country, as the worst victim, can understand the severity of the climate change.
“That's why we have undertaken many voluntary initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint even before getting any foreign support,” he said, calling for united efforts to reduce the global warming below 1.5 degree.
Secretary of the Minister of Environment and Forests Dr Mihir Kanti Majumder and Resident Representative of the UNDP Stefan Priesner attended the function as the special guests with Director General of the DOE Monwar Islam in the chair.
“We have voluntarily trying for reducing our emission though mitigation is not obligatory for us,” Dr Hasan said, adding that the government is making efforts to promote hybrid transport, mass transportation and train and water communications.
Referring to the enactment of the Paribesh Ain 2010, he said Paribesh Adalat Ain-2010 will also be passed in the present sitting of the parliament to set up Environment Court in every district.
Praising Bangladesh's leadership in the international forum of climate negotiation, UNDP country representative said climate change is constraining the ability of developing countries like Bangladesh to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development objectives.
The Second National Communication comprised five major activities which include an analysis of national circumstances to portray geographic and socio-economic settings of Bangladesh and sector specific vulnerability due to climate change.
Other activities under the programme are preparing a GHG emission inventory for various sectors, identification of the programmes for mitigation and adaptation and capacity building and awareness raising.