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Create green culture to get respite from heatwaves

Published : Saturday, 26 April, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 343
Progga Das
Global warming and climate change have turned heatwaves into a burning issue across the world. Developing countries like Bangladesh are particularly vulnerable to these impacts. Over the past few decades, the country has witnessed record-high temperatures, prolonged heatwaves, and unbearable heat, severely disrupting public life.

Especially during summer, urban areas experience extreme levels of heat, posing threats to health, agriculture, the economy, and the environment. In this context, sustainable greening and the development of a green culture can offer effective solutions. Greening is not limited to tree plantation alone; it is a comprehensive transformation of lifestyle that ensures human coexistence with nature. In Bangladesh, the intensity of heatwaves is increasing at an alarming rate.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the average temperature in the country has risen by 1 to 1.5 degrees Celsius over the last decade. In the capital, Dhaka, summer temperatures often exceed 40°C. Even at the start of this year's summer, temperatures in Dhaka have been fluctuating between 35°C to 40°C, making urban life unbearable. The main cause of heatwaves is climate change, which is being accelerated by human-induced carbon emissions, deforestation, and industrialization. Over the past few decades, widespread destruction of greenery in both rural and urban areas of Bangladesh has led to a decline in natural shade and cooling. Concrete buildings and roads in cities absorb and retain heat, further elevating temperatures a phenomenon known as the "Urban Heat Island" effect.

Additionally, excessive use of fossil fuels in the energy sector and industrial waste contribute heavily to environmental pollution. As a result, the multifaceted impact of heatwaves is growing. From a health perspective, heatwaves lead to heat strokes, dehydration, and respiratory problems. In agriculture, crop yields are declining, threatening food security. Water sources are drying up, and the crisis of potable water is intensifying.

While everyone suffers from intense heat, low-income urban populations and rural farmers are the most severely affected. Nature defines our threshold of endurance, but today it is under relentless assault. On one side, deforestation, and on the other, unplanned urbanization, it's as if humanity is drawing its own blueprint for extinction. We can never win a war against nature. Instead, we must walk hand in hand with it.

Sustainable greening is an inseparable part of that journey. It goes beyond tree plantation. It's a holistic vision where forest conservation, wetland restoration, use of renewable energy, and environmentally-friendly lifestyles all come together. Trees act as natural air conditioners. They absorb heat, provide shade, and purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide. Urban green roofs and gardens must be developed to reduce the heat impact of concrete. At the same time, rural forest conservation efforts must be strengthened to keep the environment cool and enhance soil fertility. Water bodies must be restored to collect rainwater, which will help address water scarcity during heatwaves.

This greening effort is not only vital for the environment but also for our economy and society. Tree planting and forest conservation can create employment opportunities for rural people, while in cities, green spaces can improve mental health. But the journey toward greening does not end with planting trees. It requires a green culture where every individual becomes responsible towards trees and the environment. This sense of responsibility must be cultivated through education. Environmental conservation stories can be included in school curricula so that children learn to love nature from an early age.

Youth can be inspired through social media to participate in tree planting and environmental awareness campaigns. Tree planting programs should involve local communities. Farmers can be given financial incentives to plant trees, helping them understand that greening benefits their livelihoods as well. However, there are challenges to this green initiative in Bangladesh. Land scarcity due to population pressure, unplanned urbanization, and economic limitations complicate the process. There is a lack of adequate planning to create green spaces in cities, and the deforestation rate in rural areas remains alarming. To address these challenges, coordinated efforts between the government, NGOs, and local communities are essential. Strict policies must be enacted to prevent deforestation.

For new urban constructions, green roofs or vertical gardens should be made mandatory. Investment in technologies like solar and wind energy must be increased to boost the use of renewable energy. These actions will not only reduce heatwaves but also help build a more sustainable economy. Bangladesh has achieved developing country status, but if development is confined within concrete walls at the cost of human lives, then such development is undoubtedly suicidal. Greenery is not just a natural necessity, it is a condition for social justice, public health, and the survival of future generations. A city without trees is lifeless.

A nation that cuts down trees is destroying its own shade. If we do not start a revolution in greening today, tomorrow we will not just face unbearable heat, but a world unfit for survival. Our very existence will vanish. Therefore, to preserve our existence and ensure a healthy life for future generations, we must initiate a new cultural revolution centered around the environment. A revolution where children learn to love nature, citizens feel proud to plant trees, and the state prioritizes greenery over concrete in its development indicators. Only then can we protect lives and ensure sustainable economic development in the country.

The writer is a student, Department of Economics Eden Mohila College



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