Greenhouse Gas: Put pressure on major emitting countries

Alongside undertaking different adaptation measures, Bangladesh should put pressure on countries that are largely responsible for greenhouse gas emission, said noted economist Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad yesterday.

"We only emit one-third of a tonne of greenhouse gas per capita annually," he added.

He said this while speaking at a session on the inaugural day of Annual BIDS Conference on Development 2021". The three day event was organised by Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, at a city hotel. It was also broadcasted virtually.

Kholiquzzaman said when compared, Bangladesh's emission is one-sixth of annual per capita emission of a developing country and one-thirteenth of global per capita emission.

He further said Bangladesh's greenhouse gas emission is "nothing" compared to most other countries.

Addressing as session chair, Kholiquzzaman, also chairperson of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, said, "Despite being a least developed country, Bangladesh made some pledges in reducing greenhouse gas emission, which it wasn't bound to do. Instead, Bangladesh should undertake adaptation measures."

At the session, three research papers on climate change-induced migration -- undertaken by a team of researchers from Bangladesh, Norway, and Finland were presented.

According to research conducted in Koyra of Khulna and Gabura of Satkhira, few households in those areas expect to be relocated elsewhere in the coming five years.

According to respondents, fast onset events such as cyclones are more likely to be the main reason for migration instead of slow changing environmental factors like increasing soil salinity.

A total of 27 research papers and 13 keynote speeches from Bangladesh and abroad will be presented at the conference, which will end tomorrow.