Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Virtual Conference: Sheikh Hasina Put Forward a Four-point Proposal to Tackle Climate Change and Establish Justice
Zeba Tarammun
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has put forward a four-point proposal to establish Justice for the countries affected by the adverse effects of climate change.
He called to keep $100 billion a year to protect developing countries from the adverse effects of climate change.
Sheikh Hasina made the remarks while addressing a virtual conference as the current president of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) titled ‘Midnight Survival Deadline for the Climate’ on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister said her government has decided to launch a new program called ‘Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan’ to ensure the future of the people and ensure efficient use of resources.
She added, the We should also ensure that developing countries receive at least $100 billion a year for mitigation, adaptation, and disaster response and recovery.
The four proposals of the Prime Minister are:
- Strict implementation of the Paris Agreement is the only way to reduce the current rate of damage caused by climate change.
- Under the Paris Agreement, governments should not only honour their national contributions but also increase their aspirations substantially. Must establish the concept of climate justice in the interests of climate and the world.
- In addition to access to technology, large economies (developed countries), including Multilateral Development Bank (MDBs) and International Financial Institutions (IFIs), need to ensure more substantial funding.
- Bold steps need to be taken to identify and bring the issue of losses and damage to the mainstream.
Emphasizing the need for swift action to tackle climate change, the Prime Minister said, ‘We will only lose the war against nature. All our actions show that we are consciously destroying the means of emergency cooperation, Which has kept us alive.
So today is the time to take action to save the world, not tomorrow. Today, facing the most important global challenge of our time, we are at the most important juncture in human history. The adverse effects of climate change are damaging our civilization, destroying our planet and threatening our very existence.’
She said, “Bangladesh has been honored to be elected to lead the Climate Damage Forum for the second time.”
Addressing the CVF leaders at the time, CVF President Sheikh Hasina said
‘We, the CVF leaders and our partners, urge everyone to take swift and strong global action to address the climate emergency before the 2020 NDC extension.
At the same time, we will continue to support the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Our goal will be to accelerate the financing system and address climate resilience issues and the issue of loss and damage.’
She also added, “We will also focus on the appointment of a special rapporteur on climate change at the United Nations and the creation of a CVF and V20 joint multi-donor fund.”
According to German Watch’s Climate Change Risk Index 2019, she said, “Bangladesh ranks 7th among the countries most affected by the adverse effects of climate change.
My country is facing repeated floods this monsoon, which has caused extensive damage to crops and displaced large populations. The situation has worsened due to the effects of the super cyclone Ampan in May 2020 and the current Covid-19 pandemic.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh opened the South Asian Regional Office of the Global Center for Adaptation in Dhaka on September 8, 2020.
It will act as the Secretariat of the President of Bangladesh and provide appropriate assistance, help and development in South Asia to enhance climate resilience in the region.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) President Ban Ki-moon and heads of state and government of CVF member countries attended the event.
