Community approaches stressed

Speakers at a seminar yesterday underscored the need for adopting community based approaches and conducting more extensive researches to address the challenges of climate change in rural areas.
They also opined that NGOs should work together to share their experiences to fight climate change impacts.
RDRS Bangladesh organsied the seminar on “Climate Change Adaptation: Challenges and Way Forward” at the Cirdap auditorium in the city.
In his keynote presentation, Dr MG Neogi, head of agriculture of RDRS, pointed out several problems, including drought, cold wave and flood at the northern part of the country.
PKSF Chairman Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said locally created problems should not be included as the impact of climate change rather should be more specific to address the issue.
“Whatever happens we say, it occurs because of climate change. For example, water pollution by discharging waste into rivers is not an impact of climate change,” said Kholiquzzaman adding, it's our behavioural problem.
He suggested taking into account the people's health and sanitation as well as economic, social and educational problems caused by climate change.
He stressed the need for coordination among researchers, policy makers and field level workers and NGOs to address the climate change issues.
Slamming some NGOs for doing nothing at field level except holding some programmes in the capital, Environment Minister Hasan Mahmud called upon all stakeholders to work together to fight climate change impacts.
Member of parliamentary standing committee on food and disaster management ministry Narayon Chandra and Chairman of parliamentary standing committee on agriculture ministry Shawkat Momen Shahjahan also spoke at the event.