Energy Consumption and CO2 Emission in Bangladesh: Trends and Policy Implications

Abstract

Energy consumption is increasing due to the expansion of economic activity and population size which results higher GHG emission worldwide. The study has examined the trends of energy consumption and CO2 emission in Bangladesh using the secondary data extracted from the World Development Indicators of the World Bank database. The results found that there is an increasing trend of total energy consumption and per capita energy consumption in Bangladesh from 1991 to 2012 where the total energy consumption has been increased nearly three times from 12.55 mtoe (million tonne oil equivalent) in 1991 to 33.17 mtoe in 2012. The total CO2 emission was estimated by 57.07 mtoe in 2011 which was increased by 140.67% compared to the 1991 emission of 15.94 mtoe. Thus, the CO2 emission and per capita emission has also provided increasing trend over the period of 1991 to 2011.It has revealed that the growth of CO2 emission found to be higher than the growth of GDP and energy consumption in Bangladesh. The yearly average growth of CO2 emission has estimated by 6.7% which is higher that the annual average growth of GDP and energy consumption as of 5.25% and 4.77% respectively. This situation calls for serious attention of the country for reducing CO2 emission. Therefore, government needs to develop a national mitigation plan/policy and promote the use and development of green technology, renewable energy and green growth for sustainable energy and environment in Bangladesh.