Dirty Stacks, High Stakes : An Overview of Brick Sector in South Asia

The study is part of the World Bank’s regional initiative –“Mitigation Options for Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) in South Asia”.  The objective  of  the  regional  initiative is  for the governments  of  South  Asian  countries  (Bangladesh,  India  and  Nepal)  to  advance  measures in brick  sector,  among  others, to  significantly  reduce  emissions  in the  next  few  years  and  decades of  black  carbon  (BC),  ozone  (O3)  and  other  substances  that  adversely  affect  near-term  climate and air quality from selected urban, industrial and rural sources. Reducing these pollutants from brick  sector would  contribute  to three benefits: (i) less global and  regional  warming  with immediate effect (in the same time frame as implementation of the measures); (ii) fewer deaths and  illnesses  from  poor  air  quality,  especially  among  the  lowest-income  people  who  suffer disproportionately  from  this, and (iii)  better  crop  yields  as  a  result  of  better  air  quality.  The higher degree  of  mechanization  and  resource  efficiency  associated  with modern  brick  kiln technologies will also result in larger socio-economic benefit through productivity increase.This report surveys the brick kiln sector in three  South Asian countries:  Bangladesh,  India,  and Nepal, with particular focus on experiences and lessons learnt from Bangladesh, where data and information  on  the  brick  kiln  industry  and  market conditions  are  most  extensive,  and  where engagement of the  donor  community  has  been  most  consistent  and  widespread.