From policy to personal life: What we need to achieve a zero-carbon lifestyle

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg practises a low-carbon lifestyle by avoiding air travel and choosing alternative transportation methods, such as sailing for international trips, to minimise her carbon footprint. 

On the other hand, American actor Adrian Grenier's take on implementing a zero-carbon-based lifestyle is making small changes in day-to-day life, starting from switching single-use plastics with sustainable bamboo or metal straws. 

It goes without saying that adopting a zero-carbon lifestyle is not just a choice, but an inevitable shift that will define the future of sustainable living for generations to come, especially in climate-vulnerable countries like Bangladesh.

Global carbon emissions have been on an alarming rise, with 2024 registering 37.4 billion tonnes of global carbon dioxide (CO2), according to the Global Carbon Budget report.

However, Bangladesh is a low-carbon emitter compared to the rest of the world. In 2022, each person in Bangladesh emitted an average of 0.65 tonnes of CO2 per capita, while the global average was much higher at 4.66 tonnes. 

Even though Bangladesh contributes only 0.56% to global greenhouse gas emissions per year, it ranks the seventh extreme disaster risk-prone country in the world.

Chief Advisor Dr Yunus recently suggested in his speech at COP29 that in order to survive, we need to create a counter-culture — a new lifestyle based on "zero waste and zero carbon". However, he mentioned that this lifestyle would not be imposed, rather it would be a choice.

For a developing country like Bangladesh, where awareness about sustainability is still quite low and convenience often takes precedence, widespread adoption of eco-friendly practices presents a significant challenge. 

"Achieving a zero-carbon future is a long-term goal, requiring policies and actions that align with this pathway. Governments must focus on transitioning to renewable energy, supported by international investments and adequate climate finance, particularly for countries like Bangladesh," says Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh. 

"This includes implementing global commitments, prioritising climate justice, and ensuring an equitable and inclusive transition to a low-carbon economy. Policies such as carbon pricing, investments in clean technology, and the development of renewable energy infrastructure are important in making this vision a reality," she added.

The impact of new policies

Three months since taking office, the Interim Government of Bangladesh has implemented several noteworthy initiatives aimed at reducing the per capita carbon footprint.

Key measures include banning plastic bags in supermarkets and eliminating the use of traditional bricks in public projects.

"At the Chief Adviser's office, all plastic items have been replaced with glass jars and containers. This shift has increased awareness among employees, and many of us have started adopting similar practices at home," Nayem Ali, Assistant Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor told TBS.

Sabina Sultana, a 50-year-old homemaker from Dhaka, shares how such policy changes can significantly influence personal habits.

"When the plastic bag ban was enforced, I had no choice but to carry a jute bag for groceries. Over time, I made it a habit to keep a jute bag in my tote at all times. Now, I use it not just for supermarket shopping, but for carrying all other purchased items too," she said.

Bangladesh has implemented energy policy incentives towards the deployment of renewables in its energy mix in recent years.

In 2020, the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) of Bangladesh finalised the National Solar Energy Roadmap 2021-2041, aiming to achieve a 40% share of renewable energy in the country's commercial energy mix by 2041. The plan set targets of generating 9,000 MW of electricity from solar energy by 2030 and 30,000 MW by 2041. It also highlighted the potential benefits of importing low-cost renewable energy from neighbouring countries to boost the share of renewables in the energy mix.

In a historic move, Bangladesh began importing hydroelectricity from Nepal on 15 November with 40MW via an Indian grid, following a trilateral power-sharing agreement between the three nations.

In May this year, Dhaka North and South City Corporations announced a climate action plan aiming for 95% of private cars and all public transport to be electric by 2050. The government also had duty cuts in plans to promote electric vehicles.

The interim government is also committed to renewable energy sources like rooftop solar power.

Energy advisor Dr Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan has urged industries to install rooftop solar power to meet their own power requirements. Environment Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan said in a session at COP29 that rooftop solar installations could meet up to 40% of the nation's renewable energy needs.

Change starts at home

Fahim Uddin Shuvo, founder of waste management and recycling organisation Garbageman Limited, believes that the first step towards this lifestyle is calculative consumption. 

"The more we consume, the larger our carbon footprint becomes. For years, we've produced and consumed far more than what we actually need," he explained.

Adopting this mindset involves small, conscious choices: resisting the urge to buy yet another pair of identical black jeans just because you can afford it, skipping the extra piece of fried chicken at a buffet simply because it is available, or holding off on upgrading your laptop when the current one works perfectly well.

Such habits of thoughtful restraint not only reduce personal consumption but also contribute significantly to lessening the demand for resource-intensive production, ultimately leading to a smaller environmental impact.

On the other hand, Farah Kabir thinks achieving a zero-carbon lifestyle is an aspiration and requires gradual adaptation. While it is not easy, individuals can take steps toward this goal by adopting sustainable consumption patterns and eco-friendly practices. 

"This includes reducing energy use with energy-efficient appliances, transitioning to renewable energy sources where possible, minimising waste through recycling and composting, choosing sustainable transportation such as cycling or public transport, and incorporating plant-based diets. By making mindful lifestyle changes, individuals can contribute to the journey toward zero-carbon living," said Farah.

Crying need for reasonable alternatives

Behavioural changes in terms of net zero emissions occur more rapidly and significantly in advanced economies, contributing to a more balanced global distribution of per-capita energy consumption. That is why a shift in lifestyle is particularly important in richer parts of the world, where energy-intensive lifestyles are the norm.

But developing countries like Bangladesh can also join this movement at their own capacity. 

Take polythene for instance. Less than half the plastic waste in Bangladesh gets recycled while 48% reaches landfills, and the rest is either dumped in rivers or discarded in drains and other areas of the city corporations.

Despite being a threat to the environment, its use is deeply integrated into our lifestyles. 

Back in 2020, Ecovia emerged with an eco-friendly alternative. The venture introduced Bangladesh's first biodegradable packaging from cotton-based garments wastage.

"We have seen very few people who really don't care about the environment. Many are aware of the harmful aspects related to environmental issues, while others are not and need to be educated," said Rashik Hasan, co-founder and CEO of Ecovia.

"We believe that those who are aware are ready to change their lifestyles. However, alternatives need to be made affordable and accessible. If they are not readily available, it becomes difficult to integrate them into daily life," he added.

Bangladesh's ready-made garment (RMG) sector has transformed remarkably over the past decade, emerging as a global leader in sustainable manufacturing with the highest number of 228 green factories in the world. 

And now, more and more buyers, including global brands like H&M, Marks & Spencer, and Inditex, prioritise environmentally responsible sourcing.

"We should focus more on achieving zero emissions, zero discharge, and increased use of renewable energy, especially as many global brands have committed to reducing their carbon footprints, in line with the EU due diligence law," said Shovon Islam, a director of BGMEA.

Upcycling instead of recycling

Over the years, a handful of fashion brands have emerged in the country that use deadstock fabrics from the garments industry, for instance, brands like Ami and Kanthal, founded by industrialist Asad Sattar.

"It might come as a surprise, but most of the emerging online brands we have in the country are highly sustainable. They mostly use leftover or deadstock fabrics available in Bangladesh. No additional textile production is being created by these brands and thus leaves no new carbon footprint," Asad said. 

His mission is to uplift these brands with the right education about sustainability and effective curation. For his own brands, Asad sources raw materials responsibly with 100% traceability. In Asad's words, every stage of the supply chain is tracked and traced — from cotton to the store.

Small changes, big collective impact

For the last couple of years, a number of organisations have been taking smart measures in their events to reduce the carbon impact; the recent Dhaka Flow Session, held in the capital's Baridhara, stood out for its sustainable practices. 

The event was committed to eliminating waste and promoting environmental consciousness. There were no digital displays, PVC materials, plastic waste, animal cruelty, leaflets, or flyers — ensuring an eco-friendly atmosphere. 

"For all the stall owners, our strict guidance was to bring down the use of plastic to as low as possible. There was no use of disposable cutleries or plastic packaging. This is not something that is widely practised. It is incredible to witness how fast the entrepreneurs are catching up with this," said Shazia Omar, the founder of Dhaka Flow and a yogini.

Similarly, Arka Fashion Week, spearheaded by Asad Sattar, has emerged as a benchmark in sustainable public events.

"Our sustainability practices at Arka Fashion Week helped us save 10,000 kg of carbon being released into the atmosphere. We did not allow the use of plastics but rather used upcycled and recycled materials. We also commit to plant one tree for every order placed in our store," said Asad.

A stronger waste management department

According to Fahim Uddin Shuvo, the government should have a dedicated department for the waste management system, if not a dedicated ministry. 

"This can play a powerful role in implementing the zero carbon concept. For waste management, policy level change and logistical channels play a bigger role than individual efforts, starting from collecting the waste to segregating them, to redirect or dispose of them," he said. 

"If we talk about organic waste, families can turn them into fertilisers and use them in gardens. This is a circular process to reduce the waste. But beyond that, they cannot contribute much," Fahim added.

For inorganic and e-waste, a strong and effective supply chain is mandatory from both organisational and government levels.

"The last government mostly took top-down approaches and initiated some high-budget projects to make biofuel in collaboration with China, without consulting with the local stakeholders. Nothing was fruitful at the end of the day. I think this is the time to take bottom-up approaches," he added

Fahim's venture Garbageman digitally organises the disparate group of actors in the waste collection supply chain under a single platform and encourages recycling. Currently, it also offers three services: Regen Vermicompost, a recycling platform, and zero waste consultancy.   

Awareness, beyond anything

A Time magazine article titled 'Lifestyle changes aren't enough to save the planet. Here's what could', argues that policy change is the true solution. A more efficient approach than individual action is to put a price on carbon emissions and create incentives for renewable energy and reduced consumption.

Indeed, policymakers need to recognise the barriers to behavioural changes and develop policies that make it easy for people to modify the way they use energy. There are several real-world examples of policies at both national and regional levels that inform, incentivise or sometimes mandate behavioural changes and consumer habits.

According to Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), a major challenge would be that we are not conceptually aware of such a lifestyle and its importance.

Therefore, there is a need to run large-scale awareness campaigns nationwide. But again, habits must be developed from early childhood to bring about sustainable changes.

"Developed nations are more aware of a zero-carbon or zero-waste lifestyle. Countries that are top carbon emitters must lead by example. Suppose the big countries do not reduce carbon emissions. In that case, it will be difficult for smaller countries to bring about significant change with their limited efforts," Dr Moazzem told The Business Standard.

"For developing countries like Bangladesh, aspects of a zero-carbon lifestyle that are cost-saving — meaning achievable within people's current expenditure patterns — are easier to implement," he added.

To keep global warming to no more than 1.5°C — as called for in the Paris Agreement — emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.

"A global framework is essential to guide countries in achieving the net zero carbon goal. Within this framework, each country should draw its own specific roadmaps," he suggested.

While the impact of behavioural changes in energy use may seem small, they play a crucial role as a starting point and can significantly contribute to progress over time. 

Most recently, the Covid-19 pandemic showed that people are willing to adopt rapid and drastic changes to their behaviour in the face of a crisis. So, if a country is strictly committed to achieving the net zero target by 2050, citizens' lifestyles and consumption patterns are also likely to shift automatically. 

The government may not enforce the alternative lifestyle, but it must at least ensure that it is easily accessible.