Ensure finance, tech transfer to support climate actions

Civil society groups in Glasgow have called for the developed countries to ensure adequate finance and technology transfer to support effective climate actions for the most vulnerable and least developed countries.

At a press conference at the ongoing Global Climate Conference in Glasgow-UK on Saturday, they also demanded ending carbon emission, instead of using so-called phrases like "Net Zero target by 2050", according to a statement.

In his keynote paper, Aminul Hoque of EquityBD from Bangladesh, said the COP-26, which is being held in the context of past failure of its commitments, is also brining in new optimism for future as the developed countries have pledged to keep their commitments of reducing global warming and supporting the most vulnerable countries.

However, he said, the industrialised countries that are responsible for global emission must change their theory of "Net Zero Target" and revise their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to "Zero Carbon emission" target by 2050.

He said the developed countries must ensure adequate climate finance for the LDCs through the Green Climate Fund and their public sources, while supporting establishment of proposed Loss & Damage Mechanism with separate financial allocation.

Soumya Datta from Peoples Forum, India said "net zero" is a phrase that represents magical thinking rooted in the future technology obsession.

"Just presume enough hypothetical carbon capture plan for climate goal. Collectively, "net zero" climate targets allow developed countries to continue rising levels of Green House Gases emissions instead of their reduction directly," he said.

That's why, Datta said, it is a false solution proposal and all countries must stop the discussion on such vague "Net Zero Emission" rather start the discussion on "Zero Emission target" through ending the fossil fuel and ending carbon emission.

Jahangir Hossen Masum from Bangladesh said the developed countries are showing their ill attitude in financing adaptation, which is only around 20 percent against the current fund mobilisation.

The discourse of new collective climate finance goal will be a frame of "Climate Justice Perspective" where financial mobilisation process will be adequate and surpass the 100 billion target, he said.

The most vulnerable countries should be prioritised for funding both adaptation and mitigation, said Masum.

Shamim Arfeen of An Organization for Socio-Economic Development said every year millions of people are displaced due to loss their all livelihood options and violation of human rights is one of the common phenomenon due to climate change.

The rich countries have responsibility to address the issue and ensure finance and technology support for adaptation.

Ziaul Hoque Mukta of the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihood also spoke at the event.