Bangladesh, Japan to sign MoU on climate and waste management cooperation

Bangladesh and Japan are set to strengthen bilateral ties through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) focusing on waste management, carbon crediting, climate resilience initiatives, and other collaborative efforts.

The decision comes at a bilateral meeting between Bangladesh's Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Japan's Environment Minister Keiichiro Asao held at the Delegation Office of Japan during COP-29 in Azerbaijan's Baku today (19 November), reads a press release.

At the meeting, Rizwana, also the water resources adviser, highlighted waste management as a pressing issue for Bangladesh, contributing approximately 10% (21.04 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent) of its total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Dhaka alone generates 6,000 tonnes of waste daily, 73% of which ends up untreated in landfills, exacerbating methane emissions.

Bangladesh seeks Japan's support in establishing integrated resource recovery facilities, waste-to-energy plants, and sanitary landfills to achieve its 8% emission reduction target under the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), the release stated.

The meeting underscored the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) as a crucial tool in advancing low-carbon technologies.

Since signing the bilateral agreement in 2013, Bangladesh has implemented four JCM projects, including the Southwest transmission grid expansion project, with financial and technical support from Japan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Bangladeshi companies benefit from up to 50% subsidies under JCM projects, transferring an equivalent share of carbon credits to Japan. The Advisor called for increased private sector participation in future carbon crediting initiatives.

Bangladesh also seeks Japan's assistance in meeting its updated NDC targets of reducing 15.12% of CO2 emissions by 2030, conditional on international support.

Potential collaboration areas include renewable energy, hydrogen energy, e-mobility, and industrial pollution control.

Additionally, Bangladesh's National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023-2050, requiring $230 billion for implementation, offers vast investment opportunities for Japanese stakeholders.

Rizwana emphasised Japan's expertise in environmental reforms and pollution control as a model for Bangladesh's ongoing industrialization and urbanisation.

Strengthening institutional capacity through innovative solutions and training programs for the Department of Environment will be pivotal for tackling emerging challenges.

Keiichiro Asao said Japan is committed to supporting Bangladesh in addressing environmental challenges through innovation and collaboration.

"We look forward to scaling up these efforts to meet Bangladesh's NDC targets and beyond. We are eager to explore new avenues for cooperation. He said all the field of cooperation will be included in MoU."

Later, Rizwana held meeting with LDC Chair on New Collective Quantified Goals, the release added.