Developed countries have to compensate for damaging the atmosphere by emitting greenhouse gases, resulting in floods, sea level rise, drought and other disasters, said experts at a seminar held in the capital yesterday. They urged all to raise their voices against developed countries for emitting greenhouse gases. They said though Bangladesh is not a major contributor to greenhouse gas emission, it is the most vulnerable to such emissions.
They observed that in spite of resource constraints, Bangladesh has developed community-led solutions to adjust to the impact of climate change. These observations came up at a seminar, ‘Towards Paris, Adaptation to Climate Change and Grassroots Experiences’, organised by Friendship, in collaboration with Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), at the conference room of PKSF. The participants said they would raise these issues at the Paris climate summit which will be held by December this year.
Under the new climate deal, over 190 countries will sign an agreement to have legal bindings to follow the deal. Prior to the deal, the countries agreed to publicly announce what actions they would like to be included in the Paris Climate Agreement. They said the Paris agreement is envisioned to hold the major economically developed countries accountable for the consequences of their greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in sufferings of other countries.
Dr Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed of PKSF said the Paris agreement is supposed to be a historical deal applicable for all developed, developing, vulnerable and least developed countries. He added that strong political will of major economies would be a determining factor to come to a consensus for adoption and ratification of the Paris agreement.
Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed, secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, said, “We have to raise our voice in the world forum as we are facing the repercussions of climate change. Only then, the world will realise it.”
“We are not the major contributor of greenhouse gases. But we remain the most vulnerable to such emissions. Besides, we have taken initiatives for renewable energy and afforestation to combat climate change,” he added. He said political will, both at the national and international levels, is important for combating climate change.