Ensure country's interest at global climate conference

Environmental analysts yesterday slammed many developed countries which are failing to take actions as per their pledges -- to reduce carbon footprint -- made under the Paris Agreement.

They also demanded the government's effective role to ensure the interest of the country in the forms of technology cooperation, capacity building, and financial support at the upcoming COP 24 global climate conference, scheduled to be held in Poland between December 2 and December 14. 

These demands were placed at a seminar titled “COP 24 climate conference: CSO expectations in context of implementing Paris Agreement and most vulnerable countries' perspectives”. Equity and Justice Working Group (EquityBD), an alliance of NGO and civil society activists in Bangladesh, arranged the seminar at capital's Jatiya Press Club.   

Delivering a keynote paper, COAST Trust Deputy Director Syed Aminul Hoque said the COP 24 conference is going to adopt “Paris Rule book” to implement the Paris Agreement, which is very important to uphold the country's interest.

“Our government delegation should negotiate boldly to ensure easier and effective access to these support mechanisms,” he added

Speaking at the seminar as chief guest, Dr Hasan Mahmud, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, alleged that industrialised and developed countries have been negligent about carbon emissions and that is why temperature is rising alarmingly.  

He urged the Bangladesh delegation to raise voice for imposing a legally binding commitment against the biggest emitters to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.  

The seminar's chair, Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman, chairman of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), said the success of climate negotiation outcome could be threatened as the politics behind the scene is stronger than temperature goal. “We should boost up our own financial capacity to face the challenges,” he added.

Dr. Ainun Nishat, Professor Emeritus of BRAC University, said the government should take civil society's recommendations during policy implementation. He urged the government to raise its voice on the issues of capacity building at the upcoming COP.

Dr. Munjurul Hannan Khan, additional secretary of ministry of environment, forest and climate change, said the country has been playing a good role since the climate negotiations and there is effective coordination between CSOs and the government centring this year's COP.