<i>CA urges global efforts for clean atmosphere</i>

Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed yesterday urged all major gas emitters to collectively achieve a global target to stabilise the atmosphere with short, medium and long-term measures.
"Drastic measures are now required. Unless we stem the tide of emissions, the rise in global temperature and sea level may accelerate," he said while delivering a lecture at a seminar on the "Challenges of Adaptation--From Vulnerability to Resilience" at the UN General Assembly.
The CA said an effective response to climate change challenges must strike a balance between mitigation and adaptation.
The CA, now in New York to attend the 62nd session of UN General Assembly, said there is a growing concern that irreversible climatic shift would displace millions of people worldwide.
By some estimates, he said, a one-meter sea level rise would submerge about one-third of Bangladesh's total area, uprooting 25-30 million people.
Mentioning two important factors, he said the sea level rise is an inevitable reality on the current trajectory and that the people who will be affected are the least able to cope with the consequences.
"They are most likely to become refugees of climate change. We cannot afford to remain idle until this misfortune actually unfolds," he said, adding the time is ripe to act and it cannot be delayed.
The CA said the very first step is to recognise the responsibility of all nations towards the refugees of climate change in particular, the post-Kyoto regime should ensure that such refugees are granted the legal rights required to provide for their recovery and rehabilitation.
Referring to Bangladesh's recent flooding, he said this year the country witnessed one of the worst floods in recent times, as more than one-third of the country was inundated. "In the face of such a deluge, there is little we can do to prevent significant damage."
He said, "It's imperative that we address the factors that exacerbate flooding in low-lying countries like Bangladesh."
The CA noted that deforestation, inadequate carbon sequestration, soil erosion, global warning -- all of these are part of the growing menace that is climate change.
"There should also be renewed efforts to promote 'carbon-neutral' economic growth. For this, he said, developed economies must commit to transferring environment-friendly technologies at preferential terms.
He said the developing countries, especially the LDCs, cannot afford to bear the full cost of technological up-gradation of their economies.
"Our efforts to address climate change should not disproportionately tax to the poorer nation. The post-Kyoto regime must generate new funds to facilitate development of technologies for a carbon neutral feature in a scale that matches evolving requirements."
The CA said, "It must also ensure transfer of these technologies to countries like Bangladesh to help secure their energy requirements."
He emphasised adaptation to cope with the unavoidable dimensions of climate change and is essential in ameliorating near-term threats.
"Adequate physical, economic and institutional capacities can reduce the vulnerability of high-risk communities and groups," he said.
The CA said future framework should include specific commitments towards servicing the current and future adaptation needs and priorities of the most vulnerable economies.
He said Bangladesh has undertaken a number of measures to facilitate adaptation. The national water management plan takes into account climate change as a critical factor for future water supply and demand. It also factors in coastal erosion due to rising sea level and the commensurate increase in tidal surges.
"We've developed a comprehensive framework to operationalise climate risk management and adaptation mainstreaming," he said, adding there is, however, a strong need to address the challenges regionally and sub-regionally.
The CA underscored that forecasting and early warning and sharing of information can be very effective in reducing damages inflicted by natural calamities.
"We believe that a co-riparian approach to the management of regional waters will help Bangladesh and other regional countries to effectively manage soil erosion, flooding and other natural disasters."
He said at the regional level, Bangladesh took up the issue of climate change at the 14th Saarc Summit in New Delhi. A climate disaster in the region is likely to push millions of people in the region to destitution.
He said international support for adaptation must take into account infrastructural needs of affected countries, particularly in disaster management, agriculture, water resources and coastal zone management.
"We also believe that innovative financial instruments - such as weather derivatives - can help vulnerable communities reduce their coping coasts, he said.
The CA said Bangladesh will strongly welcome international initiatives to develop financial derivatives to cope with disasters and adaptation coasts.
"We must turn our words into deeds, and pursue an aggressive strategy to address climate change," the CA told the seminar.
The CA will co-chair another seminar on "Thematic Plenary of High Level Event on Climate Change" later in the day.