Reducing air pollution by creative use of pelletization in Bangladesh

Agenda

About the event

Bangladesh, as part of the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP), is impacted by degrading air quality driven by mostly by open burning of crop residue during the harvesting season.

Action Area B: Action for clean air under the Strategic Group (SG1): Reducing Climate and Environment Risks is organising a two–day country consultation meeting in Bangladesh on exploring pelletization to reduce air pollution. The consulation meeting will bring together key institutions and individuals in Bangladesh working on improving air qaulity through innovative measures. This will include academia, government agencies, NGOs, international institutions and private sector.

The event is supported by the United States Department of State (USDOS).

Objective

Explore the scope of collaboration and understand the country context, capabilities, constraints, and potential models for crop residue pelletization to set the foundations for the Regionally Fit Framework.

Background

South Asia has the worst air pollution in the world with far–reaching and hazardous consequences on environmental and human health. Pollutants have reached alarming levels in many urban and rural locations. Open burning of crop field residue is one of the contributing factors for degrading air quality in the IGP, which includes Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. Despite the progress of agriculture mechanisation, problem persists. Farmer specially women continue to manage post–harvest crop residue by burning the stubbles. The practice continues as its faster and cost effective, but the lack of alternative disposal methods are also driving it.

Addressing crop residue burning will require multi–sectoral approach to identify and alleviate the cause and adverse impact as well as to establish mechanisms to promote alternate practices. Making pellets from crop residue provides an alternate source of renewable energy. Addtionally, it provides opportunities for small to medium–sized enterprises to genereate income stream from renewable fuel source, and promote their use in local industries to replace traditional coal.

Burning the energy–dense pellets in coal consuming industries such as brick kiln, boiler etc will significantly reduce GHG emissions compared to the open burning of crop residue and further reduce emissions by partially replacing coal (partially) in these industries. Pelletization addresses air pollution issues and provides benefit–sharing mechanism for farmers looking for alternative methods to dispose crop residue. This event is being organised to promote pelletization units in Bangladesh.