COP29: Bangladesh seeks Japan’s support for waste management, emissions reduction

Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, Climate Change, and Water Resources of Bangladesh Syeda Rizwana Hasan held a bilateral meeting with Japan's Minister of Environment Keiichiro Asao at the Delegation Office of Japan during the ongoing World Climate Conference (COP-29).

The discussions emphasised enhanced cooperation by signing a memorandum of understanding on waste management, carbon crediting, climate resilience initiatives, and other avenues for mutual cooperation.

Addressing the meeting, the advisor highlighted waste management as a pressing issue for Bangladesh, contributing approximately 10 per cent (21.04 million tons of CO2-equivalent) of its total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Dhaka alone generates 6,000 tons of waste daily, 73 per cent of which ends up untreated in landfills, exacerbating methane emissions. Bangladesh wants Japan's support in establishing integrated resource recovery facilities, waste-to-energy plants, and sanitary landfills to achieve its 8.0 per cent emission reduction target under the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

The meeting underscored the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) as a crucial tool in advancing low-carbon technologies. Since the signing of the bilateral agreement in 2013, Bangladesh has implemented four JCM projects, including the Southwest transmission grid expansion project, with financial and technical support from Japan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Bangladeshi companies benefit from up to 50 per cent subsidies under JCM projects, transferring an equivalent share of carbon credits to Japan. The advisor called for increased private sector participation in future carbon crediting initiatives.

Bangladesh also seeks Japan’s assistance in meeting its updated NDC targets of reducing 15.12 per cent of CO2 emissions by 2030, conditional on international support. Potential collaboration areas include renewable energy, hydrogen energy, e-mobility, and industrial pollution control. Additionally, Bangladesh’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023-2050, requiring $230 billion for implementation, offers vast investment opportunities for Japanese stakeholders.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan emphasised Japan's expertise in environmental reforms and pollution control as a model for Bangladesh’s ongoing industrialisation and urbanization. Strengthening institutional capacity through innovative solutions and training programmes for the Department of Environment will be pivotal for tackling emerging challenges.

Japan's Minister of Environment Keiichiro Asao remarked Japan is committed to supporting Bangladesh in addressing environmental challenges through innovation and collaboration. "We look forward to scaling up these efforts to meet Bangladesh’s NDC targets and beyond. We are eager to explore new avenues for cooperation. He said all the fields of cooperation will be included in the MoU," he said.

Later, the environment advisor held a meeting with the LDC chair on new collective quantified goals.