Civic forums for long-term climate financing strategy

Civic forums in Bangladesh have said that recent CoP-26 climate summit failed to address the adaptation programmes and loss and damage issues of the most vulnerable countries like Bangladesh.

The platforms have asked the government to develop a country-owned long-term financial strategies to support climate change actions in future.

Their demand came at a virtual seminar titled “CoP 26 outcome and our future perspective as MVCs” held on Monday.

The seminar was jointly organized by COAST foundation, An Organization for Socio-Economic Development (AOSED), BIPNET-CCBD (Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples’ Network on Climate Change), Centre for Participatory Research & Development (CPRD) Coastal Development Partnership (CDP), Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) and Equity and Justice Working Group, Bangladesh (EquityBD).

Barrister Shamim Haider Patowary MP participated as special guest in the seminar moderated by Mostafa Kamal Akand of EquityBD.

Among others Dr. Ainun Nishat-Emeritus Professor (BRAC University) and Lead climate negotiator of BD, Dr. Mostafa Saroar-Professor Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Md. Sharif Jamil-General Secretary of BAPA (Bangladesh Paribesh Anolon), Quamrul Islam Chowdhury, climate change negotiator and Ex. Secretary of National Press Club, Mrinal Kanti Tripura of BIPNET-CCBD, Md. Jahangir Hossen Masum of CDP, Shamim Arefin of AoSED-Khulna, Emranul Hoque-climate change advocate, .Kawser Rahaman of Janakhanta spoke at the event.

Syed Aminul Hoque from EquityBD presented the key note paper.

Syed Aminul Hoque said that, the CoP 26 outcome was expected to produce a concrete decision and actions by world leaders to reduce global Green House gas emissions and appropriate financing to support adaptation actions and to face recurrent loss & damages.

This did not happen due to opposition from some developed countries, especially the USA and their allies, he said.

He also criticised the UK position for its so called “Net Zero Emission” target by 2050 which in fact support the big emitters to continue their GHGs emission.

Barrister Shamim Haider said that the CoP26 outcome is somehow disappointed as the decisions aggregately has dismantled the Common but Differentiate Responsibilities principle of Paris Agreement, denied the loss & damage with displacement issues and moving towards a business model instead survival of MVCs and save the earth from global warming.

 He appreciated the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s voice as very realistic. He, however, pointed out less participation of BD govt. delegations in many CoP plenaries where main decisions came.

Dr Mostafa Saroar said that the proposed “Net Zero emission” target is a false and elusive solution and the UK pushed the poor and developing countries to adopt this target.

Quamrul Islam Chowdhury criticised the developed countries initiative of “New collective and quantified goal on finance (NCQG)” where there are no representatives of MVCs to finalize the process

Sharif Jamil said that government’s mind-set is confused as there are inconsistencies between govt. coal using and alternative energy strategies.