Bangladesh’s role in climate change effects

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on climate advocacy networks say that Bangladesh should take a leadership role in setting up a separate mechanism for displacement and migration under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The CSOs also recommended that Bangladesh, being one of the most vulnerable countries, should lobby for easier financial access to the Green Climate Fund, said a press release.

The CSOs made the suggestions at a press conference in Dhaka on Tuesday – ahead of the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP25) to be held in Madrid, Spain on 02-13 December 2019.

Md Ziaul Hoque Mukta from the Center for Sustainable Rural Livelihood moderated the press conference titled "Madrid Climate Conference and CSO Expectations", while Syed Aminul Hoque from EquityBD presented the key demands.

Aminul Hoque said that the COP25 climate conference is very important for Bangladesh because an implementing guideline is going to be framed there which will be followed by all countries for implementation of their nationally determined contributions and market-based mitigation action.

Moreover, the conference might review the issue of loss and damage from climate change and decide on the next course of action, said Aminul.

Therefore, the conference is important for Bangladesh as a climate vulnerable country, he added.  

The CSOs placed four other demands. These are: developed countries must increase their mitigation action target based on the latest UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report on reducing global warming, and the framework on implementing market based mechanism on "Mitigation Outcome International Transfer" must be developed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Other demands included providing easier access to the Green Climate Fund for most vulnerable countries without any condition and co-financing, and reviewing the Warsaw International Mechanism and developing separate work streams on displacement and migration issues.

Mostafa Kamal Akand of the COAST Trust, Md Shamsuddoha of the Center for Participatory Research and Development, Kawser Rahman of the Bangladesh Climate Journalist Forum, Badrul Alam of the Krishak Federation, and Atiqur Rahaman Tipu of the Coastal Development Partnership were also present at the press conference.