CSOs demand inclusive process at climate confce
22 October 2021
UNB :
Civil society organizations (CSOs) on Thursday called for an inclusive process from the government to strengthen country's interest in the upcoming UN climate conference CoP 26.
In a virtual seminar on Thursday, they also opined that, as one of the Most Vulnerable Countries (MVC), Bangladesh should adopt a firm stance in support of a legally binding commitment under the Paris Agreement in order to secure additional funding for improved adaptation activities and to avoid recurrent loss and damage.
The online seminar titled "CoP-26: Government position and CSO perspectives" was jointly organized by COAST foundation, An Organization for Socio-Economic Development (AOSED), Centre for Participatory Research & Development (CPRD) Coastal Development Partnership (CDP) and Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) and Equity and Justice Working Group, Bangladesh (EquityBD).
Coast foundation also hosted an online session titled "CoP-26: Government Position and CSO Perspectives" during the seminar.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury MP and the Chair of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry was the Chief Guest, while Asheq Ullah Rafiq MP Cox's Bazar-2 was the Special Guest
in the seminar moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD.
Syed Aminul Hoque from EquityBD presented the key note paper of the seminar.
Syed Aminul Hoque said that, the CoP 26 is crucial since it will take a main stocktake on newly submitted Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), establish the Loss and Damage Mechanism, and providing $100 billion in Green Climate Fund (GCF).
In this context, Bangladesh's government should play a critical role in safeguarding the country's interests, particularly in protecting vulnerable people and reducing the effects of regular loss and damage caused by climate change.
He addressed a number of demands to the government delegation, including, Continued revision of NDCs by developed and polluter countries based on their fair contribution and economic volume in order to keep global temperature below 1.5 degrees Celsius, Developed countries must secure additional funding beyond the GCF to mitigate and adapt to loss and damage.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury stated that Bangladesh will undoubtedly play an effective part in CoP 26 in order to divert the negotiation flow in the country's favour. 'Apart from that, our prime minister will participate and speak out openly to encourage developed countries to adhere to realistic GHG reduction targets and to get $100 billion in GCF funding," he added.
"We have drafted a country position for CoP 26 and are coordinating issues among government officials," said Mirza Sawkat Ali, Director of Department of Environment,
He also said, "the government's position has primarily focused on finance and technology, and we will endeavour to reach a consensus to balance the GCF fund for adaptation by 50 per cent. CSOs should also be considered separately."
Among others, Md. Shamsuddoha of CPRD, Rabeya Begum, Co-Chair of CANSA-BD, Md. Jahangir Hossen Masum of CDP, Mohan Kumar Mondal of LEADERS, Shamim Arefin of AoSED-Khulna, Hasan Mehedi of CLEAN, Kawser Rahaman of Janakhanta spoke on the occasion.
