Climate governance vital for tackling impacts
L-R: Global warming is leading to melting of ice and rising of ocean level. Developing countries like Bangladesh are more vulnerable to climate change impact
Over the past decades, distinguished scientists and researchers have warned that humanity has perhaps one or two generations to act to avoid global environmental catastrophe. Moreover, the report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) has warned that the global warming caused by fossil fuel consumption may keep accelerating. Whatsoever, climate change is but one of a host of interrelated environmental crises that threaten humanity. The people of the planet have seen the veils fall from the eyes of many scientists and researchers and they become advocates for a fundamental change -- globally. The frequent proud statements on economic growth by chancellors of the exchequer instill in many scientists and researchers an immediate sense of danger, for that may not be achieved without further worsening the global warming. Already climate change is the most severe problem the globe including Bangladesh is facing today, more serious than the threat of wartime.
Global warming induced climate change has turned from being an environmental crisis to a societal disturbance. The way in which a community of people lives and works, social norms and system of governance are all set to change. In this context, sustainable development is the most crucial issue for tackling climate change impact. To entirely understand the climate change issue and interests at stake, there necessitated to reach a consensus through international negotiations. Whatsoever, the first series of commitments undertaken under the Kyoto protocol, was to reach an ambitious new intergovernmental treaty to continue reducing greenhouse gas especially carbon emissions after January 01, 2013.
The target put forward in 2007 was to halve greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050. Already developing countries realise the unfair limitations on their growth and want the industrialised countries to continue their efforts alone until 2020. In addition, the first prerequisite is to give developing countries an assurance that their legitimate aspiration for better living conditions will not be denied. If we do not reach a consensus on such points it will be impossible for the world to reach an agreement on how we can all live and exhaust in the future while emitting as a little the villain gas as possible.
The term governance means the act of governing. It also relates to decisions that define expectations, grants, power and performances. It is either a separate process or part of management or leadership processes. Whatsoever, these processes and systems are administered by government. At this point of time, climate change governance is very essential for tackling its negative impacts. According to the world development reports-2010,climate change governance pose difficult challenges for contemporary political systems. The systems evolved to handle other sorts of problems and must now be adapted to handle emerging issues of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
This is a long term climate governance, particularly in relation to overcoming institutional inertia that hampers the development of an effective and timely response. The climate change area is beset with some limitations for governing aspects, such as social norms, scientific shortcomings, political uncertainty, lack of democratic practices, inadequate negotiation between developed and developing countries on equitable distributional linkages for implementing globally and locally lengthy processes. Whatsoever, climate change governance is critical to promoting and enabling progress towards sustainable development at all levels and also accountable, transparent, equitable and effective governance for ensuring sustainable development.
Scientific research evidence that humankind has raised the Earth's temperature, and the already occurring events are a sign of what is to come. But, some of the most powerful and influential groups in global society have derived well from existing arrangements, and they are cautious about disturbing the status quo on multi-lateral environmental treaties, such as carbon reduction agreements. Very recently world renowned environmentalist and fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Bill McKibben said, "Oceans are 30 per cent more acidic than they were 40 years ago. The atmosphere is four per cent more wet than 40 years ago because warm air holds more water than cold air. That means more deluge and downpour in wet areas and more dryness in dry areas. So we're seeing more destructive mega floods and storms, increasing thunderstorms and lightning strikes."
Months ago the United Nations COP-17, concluded at Durban in South African with stage-managed declaration through more complication and politically divisive activities. Even world renowned economist and climate scientist, Lord Nicolas Stern who is author of Stern Review on the economics of climate change indicates, “pessimistic and risks-introducing lethargy to the process; it's not fast enough. This is a collective failure and leaving agreements to 2020 is taking considerable risks with the planet”. In fine, it is an extremely hollow way for saving the globe. Climate change governance requires governments to take an active role in bringing about transfers in interest perceptions so that stable societal majorities in favour of deploying an active mitigation and adaptation policy regime can be maintained.
Although the world leaders have taken stalemating activities on climate governance; but the most vulnerable countries are taking initiatives on the adaptation and mitigation. If climate governance is to be encouraged and supported by environmentally benign policies, then a partnership between developed and developing countries is essential for acting together towards risk reduction.
Positive attitude and position should be taken for the specially vulnerable groups or communities in climate governance policies, their implementation and reforms. The seriousness with which the donor community is prepared to pursue effective climate governance through condition lies in fund flows, emphasis on specific adaptation, mitigation and green programmes and projects. The ability of the intended beneficiaries (the affected vulnerable people of any country or community) to mobilise themselves in favour of climate governance reforms and counter the anti-reforms policies based activities shall have to be enhanced. In fine, climate governance should make the most vulnerable countries, such as Bangladesh, more efficient in tackling the situation and problems thereof.
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