TITLE:
Application of Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) in the Energy Intensive Industry to Promote Low Carbon Industrial Development in Bangladesh
AUTHORS:
Tahazzud Hossain
KEYWORDS:
Cleaner Production, Low Carbon Industry, Policy Instrument, Pollution Prevention, Resource Efficient
JOURNAL NAME:
Low Carbon Economy,
Vol.6 No.3,
August
21,
2015
ABSTRACT: The consumption of natural resources (e.g. raw material, water &
energy) in the industries is bringing welfare to the society but per unit of product
from the industry is linked with the generation of environmental pollutants and
emissions. Resource constraints and climate crisis have come into focus
globally; particularly it has become one of the major concerns in the Asia
Pacific region. At present, the countries in the Asia Pacific use resources
three times greater than the rest of the world to generate one unit of GDP.
These countries are more vulnerable to the impacts of resource constraints and
climate change. Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) has come as a
preventive environmental measure to facilitate pollution prevention and reduce
carbon intensity per unit of products along with financial profit of the
industry. Bangladesh has been considered as one of the transition economies in
the South Asia. Industrial sector supports second largest share to the GDP of
Bangladesh. The industrial productivity in the country is solely dependent on
the locally available natural gas and imported raw materials. Energy Efficiency
(EE) and Cleaner Production (CP) measures in the industry can facilitate the
promotion of low carbon industrial development through pollution prevention and
energy conservation. The main objective of this research is to identify the
policy instruments for the promotion of low carbon industrial development in
Bangladesh within RECP framework. In this research, ceramics sector has been
taken as a research unit. Based on the research objective, three research
strategies have been followed which are: 1) review of the existing
Environmental Policy, Industrial Policy and Energy Policy of Bangladesh, 2)
review of the relevant measures adopted in the regional countries, and 3) case
study in a ceramic industry. Stakeholder consultation has been conducted to
identify appropriate policy instruments based on multi-criteria evaluation.
Through this research, eleven policy instruments have been identified in
connection with the promotion of RECP measures in the country with the target
of developing low carbon industrial operation. Among the eleven policy
instruments seven policy instruments have been identified as prioritized policy
instruments based on multi-criteria evaluation through stakeholder
consultation. Apart from the prioritized policy instruments the Government of
Bangladesh (GoB) has to make realistic sector wise policies and specific policy
targets to be achieved within timeline. The GoB has to increase consistency
among the policies, strengthen coordination among the relevant institutions,
and apply mix of policy instruments.