Bangladesh draws int’l attention for climate vulnerabilities

Paris, France: Bangladesh has drawn serious attention of Europe to its vulnerability to global warming with France wholeheartedly supporting the cause of the climate victim, advocating more than one windows to channel billions of Euros to finance projects in poorer countries.

Paris is broaching for a global financing package worth over 100 billion Euros from public money for countries such as Bangladesh and also wants to see the private sector beyond boundaries contributing at least 35 billion Euros annually to mitigation and adaptation efforts, according to statements by French leaders.

The issue of climate justice with particular reference to Bangladesh came up prominently for discussion at a special session of the French National Assembly that held debates on Wednesday, ahead of the Copenhagen climate change conference.

‘In order to help vulnerable countries like Bangladesh, a fund of 150 billion Euros – 5-7 billion Euros every year – would be needed which should be annualized and guaranteed. And it should be complementary to existing aid,’ the French minister for ecology and sustainable development, Jean-Louis Barloo, told the parliament.

Barloo, a top notch in French cabinet who recently visited Dhaka, referred to threats to Bangladesh’s biodiversity as well as vulnerability to flooding, erosion, cyclones and deforestation and said France has taken a leadership role in its commitment to developing countries and promoting green development mechanisms.

Opposition members of parliament including a Green Party member raised the issue of Bangladesh during the session interrupted by Green Peace activists who demonstrated with banner inside the house. French MPs called for commitment at Copenhagen from global actors to dedicating resources worth more than 100 billion Euros annually and compliance with possible agreements containing binding obligations.

However, with rising expectations, of late though, among the Europeans about a possible deal at the Copenhagen meeting from December 7 to 18, France along with Brazil and Germany is pushing strongly for a positive outcome, ambassadors of French president Nicholas Sarkozy informed a group of visiting Bangladeshi journalists this past week.

The latest announcement by China and a hint from US president Barak Obama to reduce emission of green house gases in phases reportedly created optimism in Europe which has employed efforts to strike an agreement in Copenhagen to replace the Kyoto protocol valid until 2012.

The ambassadors pointed out that countries like Bangladesh should put forward project proposals for accessing international funding. Dhaka immediately needs $10 billion to undertake adaptation projects and Bangladesh is one of the few victim countries that has prepared a National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan.

Two senior ministers – minister of foreign affairs Bernard Kouchner and minister of economy Christine Lagarde – in a newspaper article published on Wednesday also floated the idea of raising 35 billion Euros a year by means of dedicated tax on international financial transactions at a rate of five cent per 1,000 Euros.

‘Such a small contribution could generate 35 billion Euros a year to help the vulnerable countries. It is not a simple option but the fact has been obvious that something has to be done,’ a foreign ministry interpreter read out from the French text of the article on innovative financing.

Another proposal for floating a 20-billion-Euro fund has been mooted by France to support mitigation efforts by developed and developing nations and adaptation initiatives by vulnerable countries such as Bangladesh, said Roger Karoutchi, ambassador assigned for Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation.

Paris further supports an international agency to assess necessity of funding and monitor the allocations and spending of funds for the purpose of climate change mitigation and adaptation, he added.

Asked if causing damage to environment in any manner including industrial activities should be considered as a violation of human rights and if the victims should be given reparations, the French ambassador in charge of human rights, Francois Zimeray, acknowledged the relevance in the days to come, though not applicable for past damages due to unawareness of the countries concerned. ‘I hope, in the future there will be court to try the crimes against environment,’ he said.

Author: Khawaza Main Uddin, Source: New age