The world, including Bangladesh, has entered an era of a terrible environmental crisis, the impact of which is threatening the existence of human civilization. Natural disasters such as air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, deforestation, cyclones, floods, droughts, river erosion, lack of fresh water, and rising sea levels due to climate change have now become daily occurrences.
On the other hand, the balance of the environment is being severely disrupted due to the pressure of rapid urbanization, industrialization, and population growth. The air quality is hazardous almost all year round in major cities like Dhaka, industrial waste is poured into rivers which are already dying from pollution and encroachment, and the risks to human health from plastic garbage and vehicle exhaust are constantly increasing.
Significant disparities in the use of natural resources are emerging as a result of this environmental degradation, and biodiversity is disappearing altogether. In these situations, changing the environment is essential for survival and not just a matter of choice. It is essential to make major advancements in environmental conservation, management, and policymaking.
Dhaka is one of the most polluted cities in the world. The Air Quality Index (AQI) now remains at an “unhealthy” level almost all year round. Air pollution is now not only a health risk, but also a cause of social and economic loss. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are suffering from diseases ranging from respiratory problems, lung diseases, heart diseases, and cancer.
Adding to this issue is urbanization; now-a-days, a university is being built near the haor region, the incomparable beauty of Sylhet is being looted for its white stones, while training centres or playgrounds are being built by cutting down forests.
The horror of plastic waste has increased so much that waterlogging, drainage problems and soil and water pollution are continuously increasing in both urban and rural areas.
Excessive deforestation, excessive groundwater extraction, and mismanagement of mineral resources are destroying the balance of the environment. The biodiversity of this country is also gradually shrinking. Tigers in the Sundarbans, fish in the haors, and fauna in the hilly regions are all endangered today.
The lack of a modern scientific approach in environmental policies and conservation systems is further exacerbating this. The main reasons for these crises are ineffective environmental laws, weak administrative structures, and public ignorance.
What can we do?
In our climate-vulnerable country, environmental reform means laying the foundation for a sustainable future. To address this situation, it is necessary to review and update existing environmental laws and policies.
The 1995 Environmental Protection Act is largely incompatible with today's reality. No separate, full-fledged “Clean Air Act” has been implemented in Bangladesh, although a draft law was prepared in 2019 and some regulations were introduced in 2022. The current air pollution situation in the country, especially in cities like Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Chittagong, has reached dangerous levels due to particulate matter, industrial plants, brick kilns, vehicle smoke, and construction work, which makes it almost impossible to control this pollution without a strong and strict Clean Air Act.
Such a law would make it possible to set mandatory emission standards for all polluting institutions, conduct regular monitoring, impose fines and penalties, encourage the use of clean fuels, and mandate the use of pollution control technologies.
In addition, an effective law would allow government institutions, local authorities, industry and the environment department to work together, which is difficult in the current rule-based system.
An enforceable Clean Air Act would bring major pollution sources under control, improve air quality, reduce respiratory diseases, and significantly increase the livability of cities.
Simultaneously, modern policies such as industrial waste control, waste management, use of renewable energy, and construction of climate-resilient infrastructure need to be added.
An institutionally-integrated and empowered "National Environment Commission" can be formed, which will be responsible for policy formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
Coordination between the Department of Environment, local government, agriculture, industries, and ministries must be strengthened. In addition, a "green economy" must be developed, where environmental protection will be considered an essential part of development projects. A "green tax" or environmental tax could be instituted as part of economic reforms to incentivize polluting enterprises and industries to adopt eco-friendly technologies.
Along with this, a "pollution compensation fund" or "polluters pay principles" can be established to obtain compensation for environmental harm. It will be feasible to boost funding for ecologically friendly projects if the government budget incorporates "green fiscal policy." Innovation and technology have the potential to expand the scope of environmental reform. Artificial intelligence (AI), remote sensing, and geographic information systems (GIS) can all be used to monitor the quality of the air, water, and soil. Finding the source of environmental pollution and accelerating control efforts are made possible in this way.
An important aspect of environmental reform is education and awareness. From primary school through higher education, environmental education ought to be a core component of the curriculum.
Universities should promote research and study on "environmental governance," "sustainability studies," and "climate policy." Meanwhile, media, social media, and regional cultural events must be used to increase public awareness.
It is important for people to realize that everyone has a responsibility to protect the environment, not just one group or government. Environmental reform heavily relies on public involvement and local government. People should participate in local waste management, river and canal restoration, cleaning, and tree planting.
Environmentally-friendly farming methods, such as the use of organic fertilizers, water-saving irrigation systems, and soil-protective technologies, must be embraced by the rural economy. It is also evident that civil society and the media are crucial to the success of environmental reform.
People can be persuaded to oppose crimes such as pollution, tree-cutting, and river-encroachment by the media. In their local communities, NGOs can support environmental education, forest conservation, and biodiversity preservation.
For this change, international cooperation can also be very beneficial. Increasing the activity of civil society organizations like BELA, POBA, and BAPA can significantly contribute to environmental protection.
Bangladesh should play a larger role in the global climate finance and technology transfer process. By obtaining funds and expertise from other nations, this will assist the nation in increasing its capacity.
Environmental protection is now a basic tenet of sustainable development and national advancement, not merely a moral or human obligation. Environment and development go hand in hand, and development is not sustainable when it disregards the environment.
Given Bangladesh's current situation, environmental reform is a necessary and urgent step that requires comprehensive adjustments in all spheres of the economy, institutions, law, policy, education, and technology.
Creating a livable world for future generations and establishing a balance between development and environment will be the primary goals of this reform.
Bangladesh will become a unique model for the world in addressing the 21st-century climate crisis if it makes progress in the areas of renewable energy, green economy, eco-friendly urban planning, and people-based environmental management.
Growing the economy is only one aspect of sustainable development; we also need to create a way of life that allows people and the environment to coexist in a safe, prosperous, and green world.
Professor Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Dean, Faculty of Science; Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Stamford University Bangladesh; Joint Secretary, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Chairman, Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS).
