The European Union (EU) diplomats stationed in Dhaka have expressed their high hope that the world leaders will be able to reach an ambitious and legally-binding agreement at COP21 in Paris with ‘human reality’ in mind, reports UNB. They made the remark after visiting climate change-affected areas in Bangladesh on the eve of COP 21, said a media release mentioning that the visit gave a sense that much more should be done to address the effects of climate disruption.
On November 17-18, representatives of the European Union Member States and the EU Delegation, including five heads of missions, visited areas in Satkhira, a southwest of district Bangladesh, that are particularly affected by climate change.
These communities respond to the adverse consequences of climate change with courage and optimism. “Our partnership can help them sustain their livelihood and offer their children a better future,” the EU envoys said in a joint statement.
Head of the EU Delegation Ambassador Pierre Mayaudon said, “We saw by ourselves people who struggle and start adapting to better address the challenges of tomorrow”.
The joint visit had a particular significance on the eve of the COP21 international climate conference that will open on November 30 in Paris. It brought a firsthand testimony on the hardship endured by the communities living in the affected areas as well as on the damage suffered by the environment.
The consequences of climate disruption are indeed quite visible on the ground in forms of economic deprivation, reduced access to safe food and water, multiplication of health hazards, the statement said.
The more the populations are vulnerable and the environment degraded, the
greater is the impact.
Over the last two decades, even major infrastructures have paid a huge toll due to multiple causes that are now aggravated by
climate change.
Various stakeholders have conducted numerous projects to counter these disastrous consequences and they continue to do so, the release added.
The team visited several humanitarian and climate adaptation projects funded by the EU and the member states, focusing on agriculture, water, disaster preparedness, health and nutrition.
Dialogue with all concerned entities convinced EU envoys of the need for consolidating a comprehensive vision that will support harmonised policies and projects.
The government has a leading role to play in that connection.