This year, Bangladesh celebrates its 50th birthday. These 50 years have been marked with several achievements and promises in economic and social areas. From a war-affected poor economy with low income and high population, Bangladesh now stands on a strong footing in terms of many economic indicators. Not only has the size of the economy expanded, resulting in higher per capita income and lower poverty, our social progress has also been noteworthy. Success is noticeable through reduced maternal mortality, lower child mortality, and better access to water and sanitation. On the gender front, achievement has been visible in case of higher participation of women in the labour force over time. According to the Labour Force Survey of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, women's participation rate in the labour force increased to 36.3 percent in 2017 compared to 23.9 percent in 2000. Of the total female labour force, 59.7 percent are engaged in agriculture, 16.8 percent in industry, 15.4 percent in manufacturing and 23.5 percent in the services sector. Many women have joined non-traditional and emerging service sectors such as banking, insurance, telecommunications, hotel and restaurants, transport and real estate services. Higher education and improved skills have contributed to this rise as well. It is undeniable that women's economic empowerment has helped the improvement of their social status. Within their families, they are valued for their financial contribution and can express their opinions on family issues on that basis. Their income has contributed towards improving the nutritional status of their families, bettering the education of their children, reducing the number of child marriages, and lowering maternal and child mortality rates.
India’s economy will become carbon neutral by the year 2070, the country’s prime minster has announced at the COP26 climate crisis summit in Glasgow. The target date is two decades beyond what scientists say is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts. India is the last of the world’s major carbon polluters to announce a net-zero target, with China saying it would reach that goal in 2060, and the United States and the European Union aiming for 2050.
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
A crucial U.N. conference heard calls on its first day for the world's major economies to keep their promises of financial help to address the climate crisis, while big polluters India and Brazil made new commitments to cut emissions. World leaders, environmental experts and activists all pleaded for decisive action to halt the global warming which threatens the future of the planet at the start of the two-week COP26 summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Monday. The task facing negotiators was made even more daunting by the failure of the Group of 20 major industrial nations to agree ambitious new commitments at the weekend.