Strengthening the Bangladesh Climate Fiscal Framework
Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to climate change and the government is well aware of the need to integrate climate change considerations in the national development process. Several climate change strategies have been developed and climate change considerations are increasingly being integrated with national development strategies. Bangladesh is also a strong player in the international fora in managing the global climate change outcomes. It has provided its own nationally determined contribution (NDC) commitments to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) required to achieve global climate goals, even though Bangladesh is a small contributor to these emissions. To implement climate strategies and associated goals and targets, Bangladesh has made notable progress with developing policies and regulations, providing climate finance and establishing climate change institutions. The government's efforts are complemented by a vibrant non-government (NGO) sector that is active both nationally and internationally. A particularly notable institutional progress was the adoption of the Climate Fiscal Framework (CFF) in 2014 that was updated in 2020. But unfortunately, the elements of the fiscal framework have been implemented only to a limited extent. While the revised CFF 2020 recognised the importance of integrating climate change considerations in resource mobilisation strategy, in practice very little has been done. It similarly notes the significant role that climate taxes, subsidies and pricing policies can play in resource mobilisation as well as in providing incentives to the private sector for adopting climate sensitive technologies and avoiding pollution behaviour. Yet, very little progress has been made in these areas. The CFF resource mobilisation strategy does not account for the implications of climate change for the medium-term resource availability. Fossil fuel subsidies continue to prevail. Major resources including irrigation and drinking water are underpriced. The implementation of the polluter pays principle is almost non-existent. Tax policy to discourage excessive forestry logging does not exist. The continued use of fossil fuel subsidies suggests a major disconnect with the NDC targets.
India targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, says Modi
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.
COP26: What climate summit means for one woman in Bangladesh
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.
Why China's climate policy matters to us all
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.
Deliver on promises, developing world tells rich at climate talks
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.