Momtajul Ferdous Joarder

Due to consequential climate change, the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere is increasing significantly. Our planet is becoming warmer day by day. In both the North and South Poles, the icecaps are melting at an alarming rate, resulting in an abnormal rise in sea levels. Since 1880, the average global sea level has risen by 21-24 centimetres. Over the past three decades, the global sea level has been increasing at an average rate of 3.1 millimetres per year. In January 2023, the average sea level was over 98 millimetres higher compared to the same month in 1993. According to a report by climate.gov, February of that year was the highest February on record.

As climate change progresses, we are facing a dire situation. The grim reality of climate change is causing severe risks, and vulnerable countries are suffering. Due to these adverse conditions, certain countries are at a high risk of devastation and are already experiencing significant damage. Among these, Maldives and Bangladesh are particularly vulnerable.

The rising sea levels are causing land submergence in Maldives and Bangladesh. There’s even concern that the Maldives could be entirely submerged under the sea. The global community will experience significant pressure from climate-induced migration without implementing effective measures to tackle this issue. People of the affected countries will naturally seek refuge in other countries.

Causes of abnormal surface elevation and environmental degradation:

a) An abnormally increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

b) Nuclear weapons testing.

c) Uses of chemical weapons.

d) Testing of biological weapons.

e) Uncontrolled tourism.

f) Misuse and waste of fossil fuels.

g) Production of unnecessary products and enticing people to buy them.

h) Indiscriminate deforestation.

The industrialized nations of the world are primarily responsible for excessive carbon emissions. However, they are not taking any significant steps to address climate change and environmental degradation. Germany, for example, is a developed country that produces less carbon emissions than its allocated limit. Yet, they sell their surplus carbon quota to other countries, maintaining a profitable business model. While this benefits Germany economically, it does not contribute to human welfare. And the country that buys it should strictly follow all the rules to reduce the carbon emission level. China, The United States and India are at the forefront regarding carbon emissions but do not take any initiative regarding climate change.

Germany does not produce nuclear energy for environmental protection, but they buy atomic energy from France. It’s nothing but hypocrisy. This process was part of their internal political diplomacy. They do this to keep the Green Party happy. Environmental pollution and excessive carbon emissions are not solely the responsibility of industrialized nations.

In this regard, many developing countries are not sufficiently aware. Bangladesh is one of the most severely affected countries by adverse climate impacts. However, even they are not adequately conscious of climate and environmental changes. The population has been deforesting areas continuously, resulting in the depletion of forests. Many regions are behaving like ‘Barendra Bhumi.’ Now, in all those areas, the lowest temperature in winter and the highest temperature in summer are being observed. Among them, in the Chuadanga district, the temperature rose above 40° Celsius at the beginning of April.

In Bangladesh, households with no gas meters keep the gas on all day, leading to environmental pollution. It is not only harmful to the environment but also a national waste. During the daytime, government offices unnecessarily hang thick, dark-coloured window screens and keep multiple lights on, often six or seven of them. Last year, I saw the matter at the Election Commission office in Dhaka. The situation is the same in residential areas. There are also multiple lamps being used where one lamp is sufficient. The excessive daily use of electricity is mostly happening in Dhaka, making it possible to operate numerous unregulated factories.

Furthermore, most industrial factories there do not follow the rules and regulations. They frequently discharge factory waste wherever it is, including rivers, canals, and small water bodies. Car repair workshops dump various wastes, including burnt synthetic motor oil. They don’t even think about how terrible its effects are. The crops grown on the land where they dispose of waste are affected and contaminated by these pollutants. Groundwater and water bodies are also being polluted due to this.

However, the Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, is globally conscious of the environment. She, herself, is frugal. She has planted numerous trees on the premises of her government residence. Regular crops are cultivated on the land of her residence. She has utilized every inch of land. Solar panels produce electricity there. However, government employees and the people do not follow suit. Their attitude is like, “I’m spending my own money to buy electricity, so I have money I’ll spend it.” But they don’t even think about the risk of excess electricity production. Besides, it is impossible to produce electricity beyond the country’s capacity. After Russia’s special military action in Ukraine, Germany and all European countries have become vulnerable. They have reduced electricity costs.

A large number of factories have sprung up around Dhaka. Most of which are not built according to regulations. Bangladesh is advancing in the battery recycling industry. It’s crucial to be very cautious in this sector. Because if all the rules and regulations are not followed properly, this industry will cause severe environmental damage and pose a risk of fatal diseases to people.

According to statistics from statista.com, in 2022, coal will still lead the world in electricity generation. Among various energy sources for electricity production, coal accounts for Coal 35.67%, Natural gas 22.82%, Hydro 14.9%, Nuclear 9.15%, Wind 7.38%, Soral 4.59%, Other fossils 2.94%, Bioenergy 2.34%, other renewables 0.31%.

Coal combustion is the largest contributor to carbon emissions in the world. All types of electricity generation produce some carbon emissions, but coal has a particularly destructive role. A report published by statista.com in February of this year noted that China is responsibl for nearly 53% of the world’s total coal-generated electricity. China is the leading country in coal energy production, generating over 5,300 terawatt-hours annually. India is second with 1,274 terawatt-hours, and the United States is third with 898 terawatt-hours. The top ten coal electricity producers collectively generate about 89% of the global output.

In 2022, a total of 37.15 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide were emitted worldwide from fossil fuels and industrial processes. Out of that, coal combustion alone accounted for 15.22 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Bangladesh generates only 5 terawatt-hours of electricity from coal globally, ranking 44th. It produces 81 terawatt-hours of electricity overall, placing it in 44th place in the world. The country emits 74,476,230 tons of carbon, ranking it 48th globally in terms of carbon emissions. Meanwhile, the Maldives generates only 0.7 terawatt-hours of electricity, with 0.6 terawatt-hours coming from oil and fossil fuels with the rest from solar power. However, these two countries face significant risks due to the aggressive stance of the world’s industrialized nations.

Another major cause of damaging climate change globally is warfare and arms competition. Unnecessary wars and the use of weapons contribute to increased temperatures and environmental pollution. In particular, nuclear weapons testing aggravates the situation, not just by raising temperatures but also by causing catastrophic harm to the environment. In areas where nuclear tests have been conducted, many animals have become extinct or are facing a severe threat of extinction.

Warrior and powerful countries are conducting nuclear tests. They claim that nuclear weapons are safe in their possession and that they are performing these activities for peace. They believe that Iran or North Korea cannot be trusted with atomic bombs. In that case, how safe are these bombs in the hands of other countries? Is it the case that the nuclear bombs of NATO countries will bring peace, and the bombs of Iran and North Korea will only destroy?

At various times, the United States and its allies have threatened to use these bombs. Currently, Russia has made it clear to Western countries that if they send troops to Ukraine, the country will use nuclear weapons. If they use nuclear weapons, not only will destruction occur, but many innocent lives will be lost immediately. Moreover, the environment of the area where the atomic bomb is detonated will be polluted. The burden of that pollution will affect the people of that area for the next half-hundred years or more.

In the Second World War, the United States used atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan towards the end of the war. The blast of those nuclear bombs resulted in terrifying devastation and casualties among innocent civilians, including children. What fault did those innocent people commit? At the time of the bombing, Japan was almost on the brink of surrender. In that context, the United States inflicted severe death and destruction upon a large number of innocent people. This action created a grim atmosphere in the world. What logic and morality lies behind the actions of the United States? There is no valid answer to that.

What solely brings destruction cannot contribute to the welfare of humanity or play any role in global peace. Therefore, no country can claim to possess nuclear weapons safely. Any country that uses these weapons will only destroy the lives of innocent people and pose a severe threat to the world’s climate and environment. Weapons that only bring destruction and annihilation have no legitimacy or necessity in the world. They must be prohibited for every country, not just for specific ones. Otherwise, the destruction of civilized society is inevitable.

So far, several thousand nuclear bombs have been manufactured globally, but only two have been used in Japan, while the rest remain unused. Why are such immense amounts of money spent on creating something whose use is known to be harmful to the entire world? No one can answer that. The average cost to build a nuclear device or bomb is $5 billion. With the money, it is possible to build more than six state-of-the-art hospitals with 500 beds in the United States. A hospital where all kinds of treatment can be given will benefit human beings. It’s possible to build a hospital of that quality in Bangladesh at one-third of the cost of the United States. We cannot protect any virus with a nuclear bomb. A nuclear bomb cannot destroy a virus but causes many deadly diseases and viruses.

During the Corona period, we noticed the inadequacy of hospitals. In this case, it might be said that there is no need for so many hospitals during normal times. In that case, the production of nuclear bombs, like weapons of mass destruction, was never necessary, and it still isn’t. Why have thousands of atomic bombs been produced, squandering precious resources?

Similarly, chemical and biological weapons serve no purpose in promoting human welfare. It has been proven that some biological weapons labs in Ukraine associated with the United States were conducting unethical research. Such unethical research not only destroys the environment but also does not bring any benefit. Testing and researching chemical and biological weapons are creating new diseases worldwide and spreading in various regions. Even the countries or territories using them are not safe.

Tourism is being encouraged excessively in today’s world. The economies of some countries depend on this sector. These countries provide unhindered facilities for tourists to entertain and keep their economies running. Visitors travelling from one country to another increasingly use planes, cars, and cruise ships. All these vehicles emit large amounts of carbon, which pollutes the atmosphere. Additionally, hotels are wasting massive amounts of food and water.

Moreover, tourists throw various items, including plastic bags and bottles, into the sea, which is considered detrimental to the world. I visited three island nations in the Mediterranean: Cyprus, Malta, and Rhodes Island. These countries are also experiencing environmental pollution.

Our guide in Cyprus informed us that there used to be abundant rainfall before. They store rainwater through dams and use it during dry seasons for agriculture. Before 2006, all dams used to overflow due to heavy rainfall. But that hasn’t happened since. This minimal rainfall has adversely affected agriculture. The remaining two islands are not cultivated, and the number of trees there is very low.

While touring Malta one day, I ended up at Paradise Bay. There, I saw many people fishing. I spoke with an elderly couple and asked them how they were finding the fishing. They replied, “The sea is empty now. You can’t find fish like before. Earlier.” The reason for this is environmental pollution. The ocean is no longer a safe habitat for fish. Tourists are using unnecessary motorized vehicles or are being encouraged to use them by the country’s tourism business owners. Speedboats are causing excessive environmental pollution. Additionally, hotels are dumping their waste into the sea.

The hotel in Malta where I was staying is dumping all their polluted water into the sea. This scene surprised me. A four-star hotel in a European Union country is polluting the environment in front of everyone. Yet, this hotel has received a four-star certification, and it’s still operating. How is this possible? Are there no regulations in Malta? These questions kept coming back to me. A four-star hotel pollutes the sea, but no one notices or takes action.

Buying unnecessary and luxurious goods and frequent model changes are also responsible for environmental pollution and excess carbon. Many people are shopaholics; they buy out of necessity but don’t use them more than once or twice, often not even once. Unscrupulous traders lure people by producing low-quality products and advertising them with famous models. Increasing the GDP and the number of new rich may be necessary, but is it essential for humanity? When we increase GDP annually, where are we driving regarding carbon emissions? The dividends we are reaping from increasing GDP will not be able to offset the increased carbon each year.

We have seen in childhood that if we buy a pair of shoes, they last a long time. As a child, my father bought me a pair of saffron-coloured shoes that I could not tear off. Then, two of my cousins used those shoes. Even then, those shoes did not wear out. But now, the shoes various companies produce do not last even two weeks. Some of them do not even last a week. The production of such low-quality products consumes an awful lot of energy, which is also responsible for excessive carbon production and environmental pollution.

In addition, various countries around the world have cut down their forests. In this regard, Bangladesh will be among the first-rank countries. Due to natural causes, the natural process of carbon sequestration is disappearing and reaching an alarming stage. Germany has banned the use of single-use plastic spoons to protect the environment. An alternative is using a disposable wooden spoon. But have they ever considered how many trees need to be cut yearly to make this wooden spoon? The spoons are not made in Germany but come from foreign countries. Are all those countries cutting trees according to the rules? If the environment is destroyed due to cutting trees there, the impact will fall on all countries of the world, including Germany. In this case, plastic spoons are better if they are recycled. It’s best to avoid using disposable items as much as possible. Everyone should carry their spoon during the tour.

We cannot afford to make mistakes. In every aspect of recycling, we need to expend energy. It’s not just physical energy but also electrical energy that is inevitable. Moreover, regardless of the method, carbon emission is inevitable in electricity generation. In all forms of electricity production, some level of carbon emission occurs, which is natural. Besides the above examples, thousands can be given of why the environment is polluted.

Now is the time to emerge from this terrifying, stagnant situation. Small or large, rich or poor, powerful or weak, every country is involved in a competition of war and destruction. Every country is now engaged in a daily arms race. When new weapons are displayed, the adversaries and friends of the creating country all feel excited. And they start lobbying to get them.

In today’s world, scientists spend their talents destroying human civilization instead of investing in human welfare. Thousands of people in the Indian subcontinent die every year from mosquito bites. Yet, instead of finding an easy way to eradicate mosquitoes, scientists from two countries in the region made nuclear bombs. They thought, “Why bother making a mosquito-killing device? Since mosquitoes bite humans, why not eradicate the human race? Then, who will be bitten by mosquitoes? Brilliant solution.

If they worked for the common people—like creating a device to kill mosquitoes—there would be no Nobel Prize, significant wealth, or fame. And the nation wouldn’t feel as much pride either. So, they chose a destructive path instead.
Indian nuclear scientist Abdul Kalam, who was also the President of India, came from a very poor family. But, he did not use his intelligence for the welfare of the oppressed and common people. In fact, when the son of a labourer becomes a bureaucrat, they quickly adapts to that society or fits in. They forget their past.

A Bangladeshi Nobel laureate banker said, “He will send poverty to a museum.” But the opposite happened. Due to the nearly 22% interest rate on loans from his bank, many have become even poorer. Those who couldn’t pay this hefty interest had their roofs of houses, along with their cattle and goats, taken away by the banker’s goon squads. When these items weren’t enough, they even chopped down trees from people’s homes to recover the interest. Those who managed to pay the interest had to work 14 to 16 hours a day, enduring inhumane conditions. As a result, these people have no time to think about their environment.

We should not forget that even while per capita income has increased in various countries around the world, it has not led to significant changes in the lives of ordinary people. The average income per capita has risen because the income of the wealthy has increased. In this severely unequal situation, people have no time to think about the global environment, even if the world were to be destroyed—this is the reality.

Subsequently, the example of Bhutan illustrates how a righteous leader can play the most effective and influential role in unifying a country and its people towards environmental conservation. His Majesty the 4th King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, conceptualized in 1972 that “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross Domestic Product.” He advocated for collective well-being and peace for all citizens.

His nation followed suit as that country’s Prime Minister, H. E. Mr. Shering Tobgay, in his speech at the Plenary Meeting of the United Nations Summit for Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, was able to say, “Gross National Happiness drives development in Bhutan. Our people, for example, enjoy free healthcare and free education. And our economy, even though small, is largely clean, green and renewable.
More importantly, 6 years ago, in 2009, we pledged to remain carbon neutral. But in reality, we are carbon negative. That’s because 72% of our country is under forest cover, and more than half our country is protected as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.” The people of Bhutan are happy, and the government fulfils their basic rights, which has made them interested in collectively working towards protecting the environment. They have shown genuine dedication to the green revolution and forest conservation. There is no alternative to the green revolution in controlling carbon levels. Due to the adverse behaviour of the climate and rising temperatures, Bhutan was once severely flooded by the melting snow of the Himalayas. They controlled the floodwater with dams and utilized it for generating electricity. The country’s sole source of electricity is hydropower. Bhutanese are thrifty, and they use no electric lights for traffic signals.

What Bhutan has done, Bangladesh may never be able to do, as the country lacks sufficient land. It is densely populated, like the quantity of water in the sea. Since gaining independence, the country has experienced almost a two and a half times increase in population. There is an insufficiency in the amount of land needed for the food production of this enormous population. That’s why they cleared the forest, built houses, and started farming. It is nearly impossible to transform this land into forests again. However, the government can restrict its citizens from constructing new homes and permit only multi-storeyed apartment buildings with multiple floors. In that case, land will be saved. Mandatory afforestation programs are essential on unused land, especially on government-owned lands, are vital. And afforestation does not mean cutting down trees when they reach 20 years old. It must be remembered that these trees are our greatest allies in breathing.

In the case of Bangladesh’s impoverished people, they often resort to selling a tree during times of economic hardship. Strict laws need to be enacted and enforced against cutting down unauthorized trees. At all levels, wherever there is a orest, public and private, strict regulations should be implemented to stop the destruction.

Bangladesh faces the risk of sea-level rise due to climate change. For this reason, if they lose land due to increased sea surface height, it will create a problem not only for Bangladesh but for the whole world. As previously stated, individuals who lose their land will seek settlement in other countries. The world must sincerely come forward to combat climate change. China has created wonder by greening its desert areas. Other desert countries in the world need to take similar steps. Currently, in some countries in the Middle East, little seasonal farming is taking place. It is promising, but attention should be paid to planting trees simultaneously.

We must reduce global waste. Incentives for overproduction and consumption to increase GDP should be avoided. Fair distribution policies must be implemented. The five basic needs of a garment worker are not being met; however, while wearing the clothes they made, a model earns millions of dollars by making a catwalk on stage. In that situation, the factory workers will have no interest or time to look at the environment. They work 12 hours a day to arrange food. In most cases, they don’t even get a day off in a week. If they take a day off, they don’t get paid.

In this case, models, actors, and celebrities should place more emphasis on the environment. Alternatively, the government can deduct 50% of their earnings as tax and use that money to plant trees. Similarly, punitive measures and higher taxes should be imposed on those factory owners who do not comply with regulations, and that money should be spent on environmental protection. Each factory owner must be mandated to plant 5,000 trees opposite each factory and ensure their maintenance. The Ministry of Education of each country should make environmental awareness education mandatory up to the university level. Every student must receive at least basic education on the environment up to the undergraduate level.

We have reached a critical situation day by day, and it is not possible to overcome it overnight. Long-term planning is necessary. For each country, minimum afforestation levels should be strictly defined. Affected countries should provide funds to deal with this situation, including afforestation. Those who will receive assistance must prove that they have used the money in environmental conservation efforts, including afforestation. In this case, the UN Environment Committee must rigorously monitor the situation. The ‘wood mafia’ in Bangladesh is terrifying; they have ruthlessly cleared forests without any remorse in the past. If this fund is not used properly, punitive measures should be taken by the United Nations. In mid-February, I met with Mozammel Hossain, Vice Chairman of UNA Eastbourne, in Munich. He spoke about the environment. I told him I, too, am quite interested in the matter. He mentioned that he volunteers for the UNA and has taken on several projects in Bangladesh. Among them, they are planting flood-resistant trees.

He invited me to join him in the project. I politely declined and explained my inability to participate. I said, ‘I am a financially struggling writer. It would be quite extravagant for me to buy a plane ticket to Bangladesh to plant trees on an ad-hoc basis. After my job, the time I have left is spent on research and writing columns. Basically, I am a Bangabandhu (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) researcher. Also, planting trees is not enough. They need care and nurturing to grow. Otherwise, the purpose will not be achieved.’ 

Afterwards, he wanted to know, ‘How far is the airport from my house and how I travel there?’ I told him, ‘I go to the airport by subway. Moreover, I haven’t driven a car for the past seven/eight years; I use a bicycle to go to the office. I even go to the market by bicycle. I do not change clothes unnecessarily. I am still wearing my 24/25 year old clothes.” Considering all this, he told me that I am a carbon-negative person and it is not mandatory for me to plant trees. Even if it becomes mandatory for me, I cannot plant trees wherever I want in Germany. There are rules and regulations, too.

There is no alternative to keeping our world beautiful, healthy, and sustainable by planting trees. As much forest area is required for every country, it should be promoted. In countries with less land, mandatory planting of trees should be done on the banks of water bodies.

a) Coal power plants should be shut down as early as possible.

b) Luxuries and luxury items should be avoided.

c) Environmentally harmful activities like Formel 1 should be permanently banned.

d) The use of fuel-powered boats must be reduced, and if necessary, they should be banned. Pedal or solar-powered boats can be used as alternatives.

e) And all the people of the world must be educated and aware of the environment.

Only then can we gradually overcome this situation.

If we adopt Bhutan as an ideal, in this regard, we can make our world the most beautiful and environmentally friendly place, where humans and all creatures can breathe freely.

References:

statista.com/statistics
hydropower.org/factsheets/greenhouse-gas-emissions
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_electricity_production#References
worldometers.info/co2-emissions/co2-emissions-by-country
statista.com/statistics/784682/worldwide-co2-emissions-from-coal
climate.gov
chinadaily.com.cn
https://www.theguardian.com/global/2024/apr/09/tenth-consecutive-monthly-heat-record-alarms-confounds-climate-scientists
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/11/worlds-coal-power-capacity-rises-despite-climate-warnings#:~:text=The%20world’s%20coal%20power%20capacity,to%20avoid%20a%20climate%20emergency.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/15/great-barrier-reef-coral-bleaching-global-heating#:~:text=Climate%20crisis-,Global%20heating%20pushes%20coral%20reefs%20towards%20worst,wide%20mass%20bleaching%20on%20record&text=Global%20heating%20has%20pushed%20the,US%20government%20scientists%20have%20confirmed.
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/which-countries-are-carbon-neutral