In his book, Essays on Environment, author Jafar Ahmed Chowdhury elucidates that the environment is not a subject for the present generation, it is for the next century also. He adds we need habitat for humans, biodiversity, clean air and fresh water. So, we should conserve rivers, ponds, canals, wetlands and lakes. In general, through our high amount of consumption and climatic ‘insurgency’, floods, cyclones and droughts are rising. General people are innocent victims of these natural calamities. In terms of urban air pollution, the writer clarifies the sources – aircrafts, train engines, power plants, open burning, incineration, solid waste disposal sites, road diggings and constructions. Also, about 1,000 brick kilns are in operation, especially during winter, around Dhaka city that are massive sources of air impurities or toxic elements.
The author explores the inspection and maintenance systems of automobiles, fuel quality and transportation planning and operation in Dhaka. He also identifies the causes of indoor pollution – choice of cooking fuel, cooking locations and construction materials. In this context, young children and women in poor households face pollution exposure four times compared to men.
The writer mentions that 80 percent of water in Dhaka city is provided by WASA (Water and Sewerage Authority), and of course there is a question of quality. Regarding the quality of water, security of canals and rivers are important. Referring to this context, Chowdhury recommends setting up effluent treatment plants in every industry, detailed area plan (1995-2050) and urban environmental protection measures. For secured biodiversity, he mentions the significance of plant, animal and micro-organism conservation.
He explains the importance of Kyoto Protocol, which specifically includes energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, tackling transport sector emissions, methane emission and removing subsidies and other market imperfections for development activities.
Chowdhury critically elucidates the national action programmes (NAPs) of Bangladesh, as well as sub-regional action plans, like in Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, China, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. In addition, there is a division on west, south, east, south-east and south-west strategies to resolve environmental or climatic crises. Apart from that, the author identifies climate change in Bangladesh and action plan. He refers to adaptation, planning, resilience capacities, urban eco-infrastructure, capacity building on natural hazards and eco-specific knowledge.
The book, published by Botomul Publication, recommends effectively implementing forest policy, environmental policy, forestry sector master plan, environment conservation act, environmental conservation rules, and acts on noise pollution. Besides, the author recommends banning polythene shopping bags, installation of air quality monitoring stations and issuing of environmental clearance certificates based on actual facts.
Finally, this book contains national and global environmental issues that may lend a hand on how to work for nature, environment and people. The eco-specific work on the basis of economy, ecology, air, water, waste pollution, environment related international conventions and policies, would be very supportive to environmental science students, general people and of course, nature lovers. n
The writer is an environmental analyst.