Conservation meeting in US
The situation
warrants integrated and sustained efforts by all including the government to face the adverse impact of climate change
It is encouraging to note that some 8,000 heads of state, policymakers and environmentalists convene in Hawaii this week for the worlds largest gathering aimed at forging a path forward on the planets toughest conservation problems, according to a report in this newspaper yesterday.
Climate change is a reality and its adverse impact is being felt throughout the world, including Bangladesh. Rise in global warming, thinning of ozone layer, greenhouse effect, emission of excessive carbon gas, depletion of forests and rise in sea levels are the ominous signs that are likely to play havoc with the climate change in the world.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) opens its World Conservation Congress, held every four years in a different location around the globe. This year, the conferences theme Planet at the Crossroads is aimed at exposing the plight of island nations that are at risk of disappearing in the coming decades due to rising seas.
Bangladesh is one of most vulnerable countries to the adverse impact of climate change although it has very little contribution to global warming. Being a lower riparian country, Bangladesh is also vulnerable to sea level rise. Cyclonic storms like Sidr and Aila caused large-scale destructions a few years back. The people living in coastal areas bore the brunt of those.
The developed countries may support the activities taken by the vulnerable countries to address the negative impact of climate change. There is no alternative to going for green industrialization to minimize the adverse impact of climate change. Use of solar energy and hydroelectric power can greatly help achieve this goal. Attempts should be made so that industrial pollution does not cross the limit. Various projects like construction of sea walls, reconstruction of the collapsed coastal embankments, sowing of water-resistant seeds and rehabilitation of climate refugees should be implemented.
Bangladesh is a signatory to various global protocols and conventions. It has also made some meaningful efforts to minimize the adverse impact of climate change. But there is no room for expressing complacency. Much more should be done. Apart from government initiatives, all stakeholders, including environmentalists, conscious people and NGOs should put in their utmost efforts to minimize the adverse impact of climate change. The situation warrants integrated and sustained efforts by all including the governments to face the adverse impact of climate change. Generation of awareness can also bring the desired results.
