Bangladesh should endorse the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty

Bangladesh is currently in a crucial transition period with reform initiatives taken in a number of areas. Urgent reform in the energy sector is also needed. As a climate justice activist, I have been advocating for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty since 2021, around the same time that Professor Muhammad Yunus—now the head of the interim government in Bangladesh—first endorsed the proposal for a global treaty to manage a fast and fair transition away from coal, oil and gas extraction.

Bangladesh is a country particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Being a low-lying delta, we are highly susceptible to sea-level rise, which is causing coastal erosion, displacement of communities, and saltwater intrusion into agricultural lands. Our nation is prone to cyclones, floods, and droughts, which have devastating consequences for its population and economy. The primary contributor to climate change causing such catastrophes in Bangladesh is the fossil fuel industry.

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The fossil fuel industry is not only at the heart of climate change but it is also intertwined with decades of corruption in Bangladesh. The wave of corruption cases increasingly shows the role of the fossil fuel industry in an era of deception and misconduct. Fossil fuel industries have monopolised the energy sector through unnecessary power plant constructions, contract extensions, inflated service charges on fuel imports, and excessive capacity payments. Because of the former government's policy, the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) had to buy electricity from privately owned fossil fuel-based companies at inflated prices. Although a large part of the power generation capacity remains unused throughout the year. Even when there is no electricity production by these companies, BPDB still has to pay capacity charges to the power plants. Additionally, the country has been left in a bad state due to electricity imports from an Indian company. As a result, our dependence on fossil fuels makes us more vulnerable to price fluctuations and supply disruptions.

All these indicate that we need to reform our energy sector—one that is free of fossil fuels. If we are bringing change, we need to depend on a new system, to stop the dependency on fossil fuel imports, and avoid market monopolisation by fossil fuel lobbyists. For that, we are calling on the current government to join the bloc of countries seeking to negotiate a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty.

The proposals in the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty align with Bangladesh's national climate change strategy, which aims to reduce vulnerability to climate change and promote sustainable development. Supporting the treaty and a fast and fair transition away from fossil fuels can attract investment in renewable energy projects, creating jobs and boosting the economy.

The climate movement in Bangladesh has been calling for justice and rights. Our work is not over even after a successful mass resistance and protest against injustice and the silencing of rights of Bangladeshi people. Now begins the more difficult work of creating actual, lasting reform.

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Global treaties have historically proven effective in addressing worldwide threats such as the ozone layer depletion and phasing out landmines. The fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty would provide a similar international framework to phase out fossil fuels based on three pillars: i) non-proliferation—ending the expansion of new coal, oil and gas fields; ii) a fair phase out—transitioning away from existing production in line with 1.5C global temperature threshold, with wealthy countries shifting first and fastest; iii) a global just transition—support and financing a global shift to renewables in which no worker, community, or country like ours is left behind.

Favourably, the proposals in the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty align with Bangladesh's national climate change strategy, which aims to reduce vulnerability to climate change and promote sustainable development. Supporting the treaty and a fast and fair transition away from fossil fuels can attract investment in renewable energy projects, creating jobs and boosting the economy.

As a youth champion of the treaty, I urge the interim government to take the initiative to endorse it during the ongoing COP29 UN climate summit in Baku. By endorsing the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, Bangladesh, under Dr Yunus's leadership, can demonstrate its commitment to addressing climate change and protecting its population from the devastating impacts of global warming. We could take the lead as the first nation in South Asia to back this bold, powerful, and historic proposal.

Farzana Faruk Jhumu is a climate activist and a co-founder of Kaathpencil.

Views expressed in this article are the author's own.

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