What is Bangladesh's pathway to limit global warming to 1.5°C?

Ambition Gap

Last update: 28 May 2024

Raising ambition

Bangladesh’s 2021 NDC was updated to increase both its conditional and unconditional targets.1 The unconditional target aims for a 6.7% reduction of GHG emissions below business-as-usual. The conditional target aims for a 15.1% reduction below business-as-usual by 2030 (or 93% above 2012 levels, excluding LULUCF). The updated targets cover all sectors, with most of the reduction coming from the energy sector (~95%), while the previous NDC only covered the power, industry and transport sectors.2

1.5°C compatible pathways would see Bangladesh reach emission levels of 153-196 MtCO2e/yr by 2030. This equates to between 18% above to 8% below 2012 levels by 2030, excluding LULUCF. Bangladesh would need international support to implement mitigation measures that close the gap between its fair share and its 1.5°C compatible domestic emissions pathway.

Bangladesh's total GHG emissions excl. LULUCF MtCO₂e/yr

Displayed values

Reference Year

*Net zero emissions excl LULUCF is achieved through deployment of BECCS; other novel CDR is not included in these pathways

  • Graph description

    The figure shows national 1.5°C compatible emissions pathways. This is presented through a set of illustrative pathways and a 1.5°C compatible range for total GHG emissions excl. LULUCF. The 1.5°C compatible range is based on global cost-effective pathways assessed by the IPCC AR6, defined by the 5th-50th percentiles of the distributions of such pathways which achieve the LTTG of the Paris Agreement. We consider one primary net-negative emission technology in our analysis (BECCS) due to data availability. Net negative emissions from the land-sector (LULUCF) and novel CDR technologies are not included in this analysis due to data limitations from the assessed models. Furthermore, in the global cost-effective model pathways we analyse, such negative emissions sources are usually underestimated in developed country regions, with current-generation models relying on land sinks in developing countries.

    Methodology

    Data References

Long term pathway

Long-term 1.5°C compatible pathways for Bangladesh indicate that the country would need to reduce its GHG emissions by 43-54% below 2012 levels or to 77-95 MtCO2e/yr by 2050, excluding LULUCF. Remaining emissions, mostly from agriculture and waste, could then be balanced through the deployment of carbon dioxide removal approaches such as strengthened sinks from the land sector.

As of April 2024, Bangladesh has not submitted its long-term strategy. In 2023, Bangladesh released its Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP). The plan includes a net zero scenario by 2050, but indicates that energy and environmental policies will need to be strengthened to achieve this goal. 3 However, the IEPMP also mentioned that, given Bangladesh’s development, 2070 is likely to be a more realistic year to reach net zero.

Bangladesh's total CO₂ emissions excl. LULUCF MtCO₂/yr

1.5°C compatible emissions benchmarks

Key emissions benchmarks of Paris compatible Pathways for Bangladesh. The 1.5°C compatible range is based on the Paris Agreement compatible pathways from the IPCC AR6 filtered with sustainability criteria. The median (50th percentile) to 5th percentile and middle of the range are provided here. Relative reductions are provided based on the reference year.

Reference Year

Indicator
2012
Reference year
2021
2030
2035
2040
2050
Total GHG
Megatonnes CO₂ equivalent per year
166
210
153 to 196
127 to 169
105 to 144
77 to 95
Relative to reference year in %
-8 to 18%
-23 to 2%
-37 to -13%
-54 to -43%
Total CO₂
MtCO₂/yr
83
133
58 to 91
32 to 76
8 to 55
-16 to 15
Relative to reference year in %
-30 to 10%
-61 to -8%
-90 to -34%
-119 to -82%

All information excluding LULUCF emissions and novel CDR approaches. BECCS are the only carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies considered in these benchmarks
All values are rounded

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