Finance minister bats for adoption of renewable energy to save world

Finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has said that climate change is a serious threat for humankind because of carbon emissions from fossil fuels and has stressed the need to go in for renewable energy.

With 80 per cent of our energy coming from fossils, he pointed out that this is degrading the environment and everybody in the world has been suffering from it.

He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the ongoing two-day ‘Bangladesh Clean Energy Summit, 2019’, organised by Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), being held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital yesterday.

The event is focusing on clean energy along with an exhibition focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy, green buildings and green finance.

Addressing the programme as a chief guest, he said, “We need to change the methodology of energy production and we have to work for green energy. For that, we need renewable energy to save humanity, to save earth, to tackle climate change.”

Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chow-dhury, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s energy adviser, said access to energy has more than doubled in the past one decade. He emphasised the need for solar power and green energy to protect the environment and climate from further destruction.

“Our responsibility is to mitigate climate change. Developed countries are responsible for producing more carbon emissions.” He urged all to meet climate challenges to ensure healthy life in the world.

Mahmood Malik, IDCOL’s executive director and chief executive officer (CEO), said IDCOL is playing a pivotal role in producing renewable energy, investing finance and maintaining energy efficiency.

Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, senior secretary of the Power Division in the power, energy and mineral resources ministry, said energy is being produced from fossils over the past two centuries whereas energy from renewables is being generated during the last 50 years or so and is currently responsible for 20 per cent of all energy.

He added, “We should put emphasis on solar energy, hydro energy and the solar economy to achieve 8 per cent GDP growth.”

Some 400 experts, regulators, policymakers, financiers,

energy practitioners as well as officials of business houses from around the world are participating in the two-day-long seminar.

In the exhibition, over 100 stalls from local and international manufacturers and suppliers of various renewable energy, energy efficiency, green finance and green building technologies are exhibiting their products and services.

According to US Green Building Council (USGBC) statistics, there are 108 green buildings in Bangladesh. A green building is marked by water efficiency, reverse environmental impact and energy efficiency.

A participant in the fair, Al-Emran Hossain, president and lead consultant of the Bangladesh Green Building Academy, told The Independent that green construction or sustainable building refers to a structure and the use of environmentally responsible and resource-efficient processes throughout a building’s lifecycle. A green building must have a water treatment process to purify and recycle wastewater.

“We've already completed around 42 projects that have been certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). As many as 35 projects are in the pipeline," said Hossain.

 

Finance minister bats for adoption of renewable energy to save world

Finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has said that climate change is a serious threat for humankind because of carbon emissions from fossil fuels and has stressed the need to go in for renewable energy. With 80 per cent of our energy coming from fossils, he pointed out that this is degrading the environment and everybody in the world has been suffering from it. He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the ongoing two-day Bangladesh Clean Energy Summit, 2019, organised by Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), being held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the capital yesterday. The event is focusing on clean energy along with an exhibition focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy, green buildings and green finance. Addressing the programme as a chief guest, he said, We need to change the methodology of energy production and we have to work for green energy. For that, we need renewable energy to save humanity, to save earth, to tackle climate change. Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chow-dhury, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas energy adviser, said access to energy has more than doubled in the past one decade. He emphasised the need for solar power and green energy to protect the environment and climate from further destruction. Our responsibility is to mitigate climate change. Developed countries are responsible for producing more carbon emissions. He urged all to meet climate challenges to ensure healthy life in the world. Mahmood Malik, IDCOLs executive director and chief executive officer (CEO), said IDCOL is playing a pivotal role in producing renewable energy, investing finance and maintaining energy efficiency. Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, senior secretary of the Power Division in the power, energy and mineral resources ministry, said energy is being produced from fossils over the past two centuries whereas energy from renewables is being generated during the last 50 years or so and is currently responsible for 20 per cent of all energy. He added, We should put emphasis on solar energy, hydro energy and the solar economy to achieve 8 per cent GDP growth. Some 400 experts, regulators, policymakers, financiers, energy practitioners as well as officials of business houses from around the world are participating in the two-day-long seminar. In the exhibition, over 100 stalls from local and international manufacturers and suppliers of various renewable energy, energy efficiency, green finance and green building technologies are exhibiting their products and services. According to US Green Building Council (USGBC) statistics, there are 108 green buildings in Bangladesh. A green building is marked by water efficiency, reverse environmental impact and energy efficiency. A participant in the fair, Al-Emran Hossain, president and lead consultant of the Bangladesh Green Building Academy, told The Independent that green construction or sustainable building refers to a structure and the use of environmentally responsible and resource-efficient processes throughout a buildings lifecycle. A green building must have a water treatment process to purify and recycle wastewater. Weve already completed around 42 projects that have been certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). As many as 35 projects are in the pipeline, said Hossain.