Bangladesh urgently needs clean energy transition: Experts
Gazi Anowar :
As Bangladesh continues to grapple with the dual challenges of rising energy demand and the devastating impacts of climate change, experts are calling for an urgent transition to clean energy sources.
With a population of over 170 million and a rapidly growing economy, the country is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, particularly natural gas and coal, to meet its energy needs.
However, this dependence is proving unsustainable, both environmentally and economically.
Now Bangladesh’s energy sector is dominated by natural gas, which accounts for approximately 60% of its electricity generation. Coal and oil make up a significant portion of the remaining supply.
While the government has made strides in expanding electricity access to nearly 100% of the population, the reliance on fossil fuels has led to severe air pollution, rising carbon emissions, and vulnerability to global energy price fluctuations.
Moreover, Bangladesh is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, facing rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and salinity intrusion.
Experts argue that continuing down the path of fossil fuel dependency will make worse these challenges, undermining the country’s development goals.
M Zakir Hossain Khan, Chief Executive of Change Initiative, a leading Bangladeshi organization focused on sustainable development and climate action, emphasized the critical need for Bangladesh to accelerate its transition to clean energy.
Khan, a prominent voice in the field of environmental policy and sustainable development, highlighted the economic, social, and environmental benefits of embracing renewable energy sources.
He stated, “Bangladesh is at a pivotal moment in its development journey. Our reliance on fossil fuels is not only unsustainable but also counterproductive to our long-term goals of economic resilience and climate adaptation.
Clean energy is not a choice anymore; it’s a necessity for our survival and prosperity.”
Khan pointed out that Bangladesh’s current energy mix, dominated by natural gas and coal, is increasingly becoming a liability.
“The volatility of global fuel prices, coupled with the environmental and health impacts of fossil fuels, makes our current energy strategy untenable. We must prioritize renewable energy to ensure energy security and reduce our carbon footprint,” he added.
Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, a renowned environmental scientist and Chairman of the Department of Environmental Science at Stamford University Bangladesh, has called for an urgent shift to clean energy to address the country’s growing pollution crisis and climate vulnerabilities.
As a leading expert on environmental issues, Dr. Majumder emphasized that clean energy is not only essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also for improving public health and ensuring sustainable development.
Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower offer a promising alternative.
Bangladesh has already made some progress in solar energy, with over 6 million solar home systems installed in rural areas. However, this represents only a fraction of the country’s total energy needs.
While solar energy is the most accessible option, experts also recommend exploring wind energy, particularly in coastal regions, and small-scale hydropower projects in the hilly areas of the country.
Experts called for stronger policy frameworks to incentivize renewable energy investments.
This includes tax breaks for clean energy projects, streamlined approval processes, and the phasing out of subsidies for fossil fuels.
The Bangladesh government has acknowledged the need for a clean energy transition.
The Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources has set a target of generating 40% of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2041.
However, progress has been slow, and critics argue that more decisive action is needed.
The transition to clean energy will not be without challenges.
Financing, technological barriers, and the need for capacity building are significant hurdles. However, experts agree that the cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of transition.
As Bangladesh strives to achieve its vision of becoming a developed nation by 2041, the shift to clean energy is not just an environmental imperative but also an economic and social one.