Stakeholder Consultative Workshop on National Strategy for Sustainable Brick Production in Bangladesh

The Government of Bangladesh’s Department of Environment (DOE), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) are hosting a Stakeholder Consultative Workshop on the National Strategy for Sustainable Brick Production in Bangladesh on 27 July 2017. The workshop aims to bring together policy makers/regulators, representatives from the Bangladesh Brick Manufacturing Owner’s Association (BBMOA), concerned ministries and relevant government departments to discuss and improve the national strategy document so that it can effectively reduce pollutant emissions from the brick production sector.

Background

Brick production is an important area where emissions from black carbon and other short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) can be substantially reduced. Studies show that using more efficient technologies, mainly during the firing of bricks, can reduce pollutant emissions by 20–70%, depending on the process, scale, and fuel used. In order to promote efficient technologies, ICIMOD is working with its implementing partner, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) on the Brick Production Initiative (BPI) in Asia which aims at achieving substantial reductions of SLCPs from the brick sector. The focus countries are Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.

BPI aims to catalyze political engagement by placing on Bangladesh’s national agenda the goal of reducing SLCPs from inefficient brick production. Through discussion with DOE, ICIMOD supported the development of a draft National Strategy for Sustainable Brick Production in Bangladesh. The document is expected to provide decision makers the necessary tools and information for effective policy formulation and policy implementation to transform the brick-making sector. It provides information about various policy measures relevant to the brick sector; capacity and policy gaps that would need to be addressed to ensure effective strategic planning; and options for addressing major challenges and problems posed by the brick sector.

This workshop builds on successful collaborative efforts in the past, including a March 2017 set of training programmes on ‘Zigzag Firing Practice on Brick Production’ held in Rajshahi, Sylhet and Cox’s bazaar. For these programmes, CCAC worked in close collaboration with BBMOA and DOE and successfully showcased a cost effective technology solution for clean brick production.