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

Across all analysed pathways, the power sector starts to decarbonise in the near term, with emissions intensity declining as early as 2030. This requires a significant scale up of renewables. The Net-Zero Commitments pathway shows the share of renewables increase from less than 2% in 2019 to 83% in 2040. Gas would be phased out around 2070. In all other pathways, a higher deployment of hydrogen allows a faster phase out of gas.

Bangladesh’s electricity sector is grappling with overcapacity and increased dependence on costly fossil fuel imports.³3 This heavy reliance on imports leave Bangladesh vulnerable to global energy market fluctuations and contributes to power shortages. The sector also faces substantial subsidy burdens due to over-reliance on costly imported fossil fuels, further complicating its financial sustainability.⁴4 Investing in renewables allows Bangladesh to diversify its mix, increase energy independence, and reduce the risk of carbon lock-in.

The Integrated Energy Power Master Plan (IEPMP) aims for 25% clean energy by 2030, rising to 40% by 2041. It also recommends upgrading infrastructure such as modernising the grid and developing better storage capacity.⁵5 However, implementation is a major challenge – particularly mobilising the required international financial support. It is important to note that the IEPMP considers nuclear and fossil gas as clean energy. IEPMP pathways also include unproven technologies like carbon capture and storage and ammonia coal co-firing.