Bangladeshi Civil society demands strong action to reduce the rate of global temperature rise
The rights-based civil society has demanded the Bangladesh government to take strong action to limit the global temperature rise to a maximum of 1.5 degrees at the upcoming climate conference (COP 28).
The negotiators said these things at a seminar titled ‘Cop 28 Climate Conference: Opinions of Government and Civil Society’ held at a hotel in the capital Dhaka on November 18, 2023.
Apart from this, they expressed the opinion that Bangladesh should also demand the formation of a separate fund for loss and damage.
The seminar was jointly organized by COAST Foundation, N Organization for Socio Economic Development, Bangladesh Climate Journalists Forum, Climate Action Network, South Asia-Bangladesh, Center for Participatory Research and Development, Coastal Development Partnership, Center for Rural Livelihood, Equity and Justice Working Group, Bangladesh [EquityBD], LEDRS, LDC Watch.
Bangladeshi Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Climate Change and Member of Parliament Saber Hossain Chowdhury addressed the chief guest at the seminar.
Referring to several shortcomings of the UNFCCC’s current process, he said, for example, no decision can be taken without the consent of one member of the UNFCCC.
He recommends reforming the process, as the existing situation is leading the world into a deeper crisis and diminishing the gains made.
Saber Hossain said, “It is very important to collect information on the recent conditions in a scientific way to meet the goal of keeping the temperature increase at 1.5 degrees.”
Aminul Haque of EquityBD presented the keynote at the seminar. He highlighted the importance of COP 28 and said that this conference will collect and verify the progress of the implementation of the Paris Agreement, and it will reveal the failure to meet many of the goals of the agreement.
He criticized rich countries for failing to meet the 1.5% warming target and climate finance targets.
Dr. Kazi Khalikuzzaman Ahmed, President of Dhaka School of Economics Under the chairmanship of Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD, Member of Parliament Barrister Shamim Haider Patwari, Director of Environment Department Ziaul Haque and Mirza Shawkat Ali, Sharif Jamil of Water Keepers, CPRD Md. Shamsuddoha, Fazle Rabbi Sadeqi Ahmed of PKSF and others.
