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Low carbon, better world

Ronju Ahammad
THERE is every reason to believe that increased concentration of atmospheric carbon emissions has already contributed a major role to the global climate changes.
Standing in such a climate
contingency, the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) acknowledges that we have already commenced our mission towards carbon abatement. However, this year will bring more collaboration from every position to change our former habit and reduce carbon emission that
adversely affects human survival. In this response, they have picked a slogan for the recently concluded world environment day: "Kick the habit, towards a low carbon economy."
Different sources, namely terrestrial vegetation (i.e. plants) and oceans, balance the atmospheric carbon emission. Plants absorb carbon from the atmosphere for food production (photosynthesis). On the other hand, the ocean mixes carbon dioxide (CO2) by turbulence and converts it into carbonic acid (H2CO3), and eventually takes it into a deeper part (from the top of the ocean to 100m below) for accumulation.
But, recent evidence shows that the atmosphere has reached its highest concentration of CO2 at 387 ppm (parts per million) since the industrial revolution. Scientists also project that if our annual emission rate increases at 2.1 ppm then both plants and the ocean will not be able to absorb the extra CO2.
To defend against global warming, we need to maintain the emis-
sion limit of CO2 at 350 ppm from the previously set target at 450 ppm. Even if we start downgrading the carbon emission right now; it would take a long time to reduce the CO2 that has already been released into the atmosphere.
In the international arena, we have seen little efforts for reducing carbon emission compared to the frequently experiencing affects of climate change. Of late, the Kyoto Protocol has come up with agreements to reduce carbon emission, but to a limited extent and always constrained by the uneven interests of the countries.
Bangladesh, as one of the badly affected countries of the world from climate change, has multiple opportunities to take heed of carbon emission for sustaining its economic growth. Compared to the world average per capita CO2 emission (4.0 metric tons per capita), our emission is low (0.2 metric tons per capita). However, rapid population growth, upsurge demand of fossil fuels (natural gas, petroleum products and coal) as well as land use changes and deforestation has accelerated CO2 emission in the last decades.
So far, very limited study has been conducted in Bangladesh on carbon footprint (this is a measure of the amount of CO2 emissions that can be attributed to an organisation, product or individual). Based on different fossil fuels
burning and cement manufacturing, the World Resource Institute (WRI) estimated in 2005 that total amounts of CO2 released in Bangladesh is 29,253,000 MT.
Among different fossil fuels, petroleum products (e.g. diesel, kerosene, motor spirit etc) contribute the highest concentration (50 percent of total carbon emission) followed by natural gas (44 percent) and coal (6 percent). In addition, the burning of agriculture and forest products in rural areas contributes to CO2 emission.
However, recent study shows that use of natural gas for residences, transport and industries has increased carbon emission greatly since 1990. Natural gas is gradually replacing petroleum products to some extent. Carbon-emitting industries such as cement industries have also grown considerably in the last decade. Therefore, the present carbon emission rate would be more than previously estimated one.
This year, the lesson of the environment day comes to us for managing carbon in our everyday life. The success of carbon emission reduction may only be possible if we become careful of our lifestyle, e.g. what we eat, which home appliances we use, how we travel, etc.
At very individual level, we can
contribute to reduce carbon emission while choosing different energy-efficient products. For instance, instead of using regular light bulb, we can use energysaving light bulbs, which will consume less energy, last long and reduce carbon emission.
While travelling we can use public transport in lieu of private cars, which will eventually decrease carbon emission. Proper inspection and maintenance of the vehicle can also reduce carbon emission. Government can provide better road network and improved traffic system to avoid jam (that also increases carbon emission). Moreover, motivational media campaign should be carried out to encourage people for using public transport or nonmotorised vehicles.
We have different sizes of local and international business concerns. They need to focus on leaving low carbon footprint during their production period. They can play a great role through producing energy-efficient products and maintaining sustainability of the products (for reuse and recycle).
In Bangladesh, government and non-government organisations can work with carbon emitting industries to limit their emission and adopt better practices. Unlike developed countries, we do not have high expertise, yet we can develop cost-effective technology
for assessing carbon emission of our industries and promoting environment-friendly business policy as well as building-adaptive environmental governance through cooperation. Carbon Disclosure Project, a UK-based non-profit organisation is already providing technical support to different world leading multinational companies to assess their carbon emission as well for sustaining their business life.
A group of researchers from Imperial College, UK projected that 60 percent reduction of total carbon emissions in the world can be possible by 2050 through combination of energy efficiency, renewable sources of electricity, replacing coal and oil with lower carbon fuels such as gas, and the use of hydrogen as a fuel.
In Bangladesh, fossil fuel reserves for natural gas (10.6 TCF) and coal (2.7 billion tons) are not enough to meet our energy demand for a long time. We cannot also depend on oil import (consumption rate 91,000 barrels per day) entirely as it occupies nearly 22 percent of our export earnings and emits more carbon.
Considering these pessimistic scenarios, we need to explore the feasibility of developing renewable energy sources that would solve energy crisis and reduce carbonemission.
Bangladesh has several poten-
rials to switch over to low carbon renewable energy. Because of its geographical location and availability of solar energy, solar photo-voltaic system can be enhanced for generating electricity. Grameen Shakti has provided 25,000 solar home systems in the rural areas. Nevertheless, it is very limited compared to the total demand. Considering low carbon economy and to solve energy crisis, government can provide incentives to local and international agencies as early as possible for establishing renewable energy options.
Any step towards carbon efficiency will work well if we can insure better governance and economy as well as enhance coordination at all levels of the society through building stewardship for protecting our own environment. Transforming our traditional consumptive behaviour can also smooth the journey towards a low carbon economy.
Ceasing enhanced CO2 emission may be the greatest challenge for the world society while focusing on climate change. Yet, the betterment of our common future environment depends on current rational actions on resource use that emits less CO2.
Ronju Ahammad wntes from the Stockholm Residence Centre. Stockholm University. Sweden.