Carbon Pricing to Contribute to Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Efforts of Bangladesh: Design features and rationale

Publication: Report
Citation: Alam, Shafiqul 2019: Carbon Pricing to Contribute to Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Efforts of Bangladesh: Design features and rationale. Ecologic Institute: Berlin.

Bangladesh needs to turn its pledges into effective policy instrument to realize the promises about greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation made in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). In that regard, analyzing the energy and climate policies of Bangladesh and consulting with the stakeholders from Bangladesh and other countries, Shafiqul Alam in his recent study titled "Carbon pricing to contribute to greenhouse gas mitigation efforts of Bangladesh: design features and rationale" provides new insights on the possible policy instrument for Bangladesh to achieve the target of NDC and raises some fundamental policy issues. The study is available for download.

As Bangladesh is enjoying sustained GDP growth, overall GHG emission is increasing. The third national communication, recently prepared for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, also confirms the rising trend of GHG emission. Moreover, the projected economic growth and increase in the use of coal in power generation might exacerbate the emission trend forecasted in NDC. Allocation of public funding for mitigation projects is also unlikely for the country that has a very low tax to GDP ratio. Based on expert interviews and a detailed review of different carbon pricing instruments of selected countries, the study concludes that a carbon tax scheme could address these problems and shape the future emission trajectory of Bangladesh. It would also accelerate the phase-out of energy subsidy process of the government, freeing up resources to recycle for development projects. As carbon tax can complement other policies, it should be flanked with complementary policies, such as, renewable energy and energy efficiency policies and be part of a larger energy, climate and fiscal policy mix. Taking these into account, a possible implementation framework of a carbon tax scheme is proposed. The study recommends that the government should reconsider the plan to increase share of coal in power generation in the foreseeable future as renewable energy is already cheaper than coal in the international market.

The study highlights that despite the precise impacts and benefits of carbon tax, implementation of such a tool warrants strong political will. It is also essential to understand the distributional impacts of carbon tax on the economy and welfare impacts of carbon tax on the poor even if the plan is to start with a low tax base.

The author of the report, Shafiqul Alam was supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation within the framework of International Climate Protection Fellowship to conduct this study during 2018-19 and hosted by the Ecologic Institute. Shafiqul Alam was mentored by Benjamin Görlach of Ecologic Institute.

Despite the advantages of the CO2 tax, the implementation of such an instrument requires strong political commitment.

Language: English
Authorship: Shafiqul Alam
Year: 2019
Dimension: 45 pp.
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

Executive Summary
I. Background of the Study
I.I Energy Policy Context of Bangladesh
I.II Climate Policy Context of Bangladesh
I.III Increasing trend of GHG Emission and Deteriorating Air Quality
I.IV Motivation for Research on Carbon Pricing
I.V Research Questions
I.VI Methodology
I.VII Structure of the Report
II. Carbon Pricing
II. I Carbon pricing basics
II.II Types of carbon pricing instruments
II.III Reasons to use carbon pricing in climate policy
III. Review of Selected Carbon Pricing Instruments
III.I Selection of countries and carbon pricing instruments
III.I.A Carbon Tax in India
III.I.B Carbon Tax in Mexico
III.I.C Carbon Tax in Colombia
III.I.D Korea ETS
III.I.E China ETS
III.I.F EU ETS
III.I.G PAT Scheme India
IV. Outcomes of Interviews
IV.I Main Motivation behind introducing Carbon pricing in Bangladesh
IV.II Rationale for business entities to accept carbon pricing
IV.III Choice of Carbon Pricing Instrument for Bangladesh
IV.IIIa Choice of Primary Carbon Pricing Instrument
IV.IIIb Why mandatory scheme
IV.IIIc Rationale behind choosing Carbon Tax
IV.IV Important preconditions for setting up carbon pricing scheme in Bangladesh
IV.V Starting with a trial period/gradual phase/pilot
IV.Va Why a trial period/gradual phase/pilot would be a good idea?
IV.Vb Criteria to select subsector/sector for the gradual phase
IV.VI Summary of Interview Outcomes
V. Design features & Implementation framework
V.I Setting policy goals
V.II Impacts and needs assessment
V.III Design
V.IV Measures to address cost containment/carbon leakage
V.V Implementation arrangement & approaches
V.VI Monitoring & Verification
V.VII Redistribution of revenue
V.VIII Evaluation
VI. Conclusion and Outlook
VI.I Conclusion
VI.II Future area of study
References
Annex I: Brief and questionnaire for Interview
Annex II: List of interviewees
Keywords: Climate

Energy

Finance

energy, climate, policy, GHG, greenhouse gas, emission, air quality, carbon pricing, instruments, tax, impact, needs assessment, cost containment, carbon leakage, implementation

Bangladesh, Asia, india, Mexico, Colombia, Korea, China, Europe, India

questionnaire, interview, evaluation

Further Links

PublicationReportScaling up Carbon Markets in Developing Countries Post-2012

A new report on the interaction between carbon markets and Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) in developing countries brings together the outcomes of a one-year research project entitled "Scaling up carbon markets in developing countries post 2012:... Read more

Upadhyaya, Prabhat 2012: Scaling up carbon markets in developing countries post-2012: Are NAMAs the way forward? Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

PublicationArticleThe Future of Energy Security

Energy security – the uninterrupted supply of energy at reasonable prices, as defined by IEA – has both external and internal dynamics. It can be ensured through local adequacy, that is, abundant and varied forms of indigenous energy resources, but the countries that... Read more

Shafiqul Alam: The future of energy security. Dhaka Tribune, 18 April 2019. Online:https://www.dhakatribune.com/opinion/op-ed/2019/04/18/the-future-of-energy-security

PublicationReportThe Innovation Fund: How can it support low-carbon industry in Europe?

The long-term transformation to a low-carbon economy requires innovation in technology and existing practices in all sectors of the economy. The Innovation Fund under the EU Emissions Trading System is meant to support such innovation projects in industry and energy.... Read more

Duwe, Matthias; Ostwald, Robert (2017): The Innovation Fund: how can it support low-carbon industry in Europe: Design recommendations for the successor instrument to the NER 300 in Phase 4 of the EU ETS. Ecologic Institute, Berlin.

PresentationSpeechEmissions Reductions: Approaches to Carbon Markets

Ecologic Institute's Elizabeth Zelljadt explained emissions trading systems (ETS) at a workshop on carbon pricing in Latin America and the Caribbean hosted by the environmental advocacy group World Wildlife Fund (WWF). As several Latin American countries are... Read more

Speech:Emissions Reductions: Approaches to Carbon Markets

Date: 11 June 2018
Location: Mexico City, Mexico