‘Stop gas expansion’: Global action on Pashur River warns fossil fuel growth undermines climate goals

Speakers at a global action event on the Pashur river warned that the pace of fossil gas extraction is obstructing global climate ambitions, particularly as energy demand continues to rise across the Global South.

At 10:00am today, environmental organisations Dharitree Rokkhay Amra (Dhora), Waterkeepers Bangladesh, and Pashur River Waterkeeper launched a boat rally on the Pashur River in Mongla.

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Presiding over the rally's inauguration programme, environmental activist and Pashur River Waterkeeper Md Noor Alam Sk said, "Fossil gas expansion must be stopped immediately."

"As a just energy transition, fossil gas can never be an alternative to coal or oil. The world's largest natural gas producers are the United States, followed by China, Russia, Iran, Canada, and Qatar. To these countries, I say, 'Stop gas and LNG, we need renewable energy'."

Speakers urged G20 leaders and COP30 negotiators to ensure policy shifts towards renewable energy.

Youth leader Mehedi Hasan said industrialising countries outside the Global North are projected to see "an 85 percent rise in energy demand", adding, "To meet this demand, the Global North is promoting fossil gas as an alternative. We want to give a clear message to the Global North: 'Don't gas the South'."

Environmental and development worker Fatema Jannat highlighted the scale of fossil gas expansion worldwide, noting that 768 gas-fired power plants are in the pre-construction stage across Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

Others speaking at the event included Abdur Rashid Hawlader, general secretary of the Mongla Upazila Fishermen's Association; sports organiser Mohammad Selim Hawlader.

The Mongla rally was part of a series of coordinated protests in Asia, Africa, and Latin America demanding an end to fossil gas expansion. In Bangladesh, similar rallies were held on nine rivers, including the Pashur.