Dhaka to stress climate compensation for LDCs

To mark the visit by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods forms a human chain before Jatiya Press Club in the city yesterday to demand rehabilitation of people affected by climate change.Photo: STAR

Operationalisation of Green Climate Fund (GCF), compensation for climate refugees, and preferential treatment of LDCs will be the most important priorities for Bangladesh in the forthcoming Durban climate conference in South Africa late this month.
State Minister for Environment and Forests Dr Hasan Mahmud said this while speaking as the chief guest at a roundtable, "Climate Change Negotiation Process Towards COP 17 in Durban", in Cirdap auditorium.
“We will focus on money and migration as both would go hand in hand. More and more people are being displaced due to the adverse impacts of climate change across the world, with the highest number of people displaced in Bangladesh”, he said.
Since 1970, according to a statistics, about 39 million people have been displaced by major natural calamities like flood and cyclone in the country till 2009. Experts warn that about 6-8 million more people of Bangladesh could be displaced due to increase in global temperature and sea-level rise by 2050.
The state minister said the highest number of people was displaced due to climate change, and migration is the ultimate solution to it. Referring to the government's plan, Dr Mahmud said we would go for study about the comprehensive assessment of climate-displaced people and it would start after Durban conference.
About the climate fund, he said balance allocation for adaptation and mitigation, direct access, and preferential treatment for the countries vulnerable to the onslaught of global warming like LDCs and SIDS should be ensured.
Chairman of PKSF Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad presided over the roundtable organided by Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad in association with Concern Worldwide, Bangladesh.
Among others, Junayed Ahmed Palak MP, Additional Secretary to the Climate Change Unit of the Ministry of Environment and Forests Didarul Ahsan, climate scientist Dr Saleemul Huq, BIDS research director Dr M Asaduzzaman, and FEJB chairman Quamrul Islam Chowdhury took part in the discussion.
Dr SM Munjurul Hannan Khan presented the keynote paper in the roundtable followed by two other papers submitted by Saroj Dash and Dr Ambika Prasad Nanda.
The state minister said Bangladesh would remain vocal in the Durban climate summit for proper compensation from the top carbon emitting nations and seeking technology transfer free of cost from the developed world.
Referring to climate vulnerable forum (CVF) meeting beginning here today, Dr Mahmud dubbed Dhaka Forum as the crucial to infuse a new momentum in the climate negotiations that have yet to ink a legally binding obligation for industrially developed nations to reduce carbon emission and justified compensation to the worst affected nations including Bangladesh.
“We want to raise a strong voice in COP17 in Durban. Before that, we need to discuss our common issues and set our target”, the state minister said, adding that the Dhaka CVF would not only help identify major areas of concern for vulnerable countries but also would give new footing for bargaining ahead of COP.