A climate project
in Bangladesh, which involves replacing outdated brick kilns in
Dhaka, is set to ensure the United Nations Climate Change
Conference (COP15) will be climate neutral.
The project has been
made possible through an agreement between Denmark, the World Bank
and Bangladesh. It will see the heavily polluting, existing kilns
replaced by 20 new energy efficient ones, which will cut more than
100,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year and improve air quality
in one of the world’s most polluted cities.
“Bangladesh is one of the countries hardest hit by climate change
and there’s an enormous need to help the country with technology
and capital transfers. This climate project is one way to help. For
the people of Dhaka, it will also mean a noticeable reduction in
the amount of particulate matter in the air. As it is, pollution
from the existing brickworks is clearly visible, Danish Minister
for Climate and Energy Connie Hedegaard says:
“This is just one of many good, sustainable projects promoting much
needed growth in the developing world. It will ensure that the
Climate Conference in Copenhagen becomes carbon neutral, i.a. by
compensating for emissions stemming from conference delegates’ air
travel.”
The Danish government has set aside 0.7 million euro as part of
this year’s state budget to offset the CO2 emissions related to
COP15. The largest single source of emissions will be the flights
taken by decision makers travelling to Copenhagen, where they will
seek to work out an ambitious climate agreement.
The goal of the Bangladesh project is to prove that working to
prevent climate change can benefit all developing countries – both
the more wealthy and the poor, and that reducing carbon emissions
and transferring technology go hand in hand with sustainable
development and improving the quality of life.
Alongside the Dhaka project, the Danish government is investing in
a number of other sustainable initiatives in Eastern Europe and the
developing world as part of Denmark’s obligations under the Kyoto
Protocol.
Currently, 60 projects focusing on renewable energy, improving
energy supply networks, energy efficiency, collecting methane from
landfills, etc. are being carried out.
It must be stressed, however, that the Bangladesh project is over
and above the Danish Kyoto obligations, and that the emissions
reductions received from the Bangladesh project to off-set COP-15
emissions will eventually be deleted so that they cannot be used by
the Danish Government or any other party to meet any binding
reduction obligations.
More information about the Dhaka project is
available from the Danish Energy Agency.