The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, New York

Chief Adviser of caretaker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed on Monday described Bangladesh as particularly vulnerable to climate change and chronically prone to inundation and called for global efforts to promote 'carbon-neutral' economic growth without disproportionately taxing the poorer nations.

"Developed economies must commit to transferring environment- friendly technologies at preferential terms. Developing countries, especially the LDCs, cannot afford to bear the full cost of technological upgradation of their economies. The post- Kyoto regime must generate new funds. It must also ensure transfer of these technologies to countries like Bangladesh to help secure their energy requirements," he told the high-level thematic plenary on climate change at the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly here.

Bangladesh, the Chief Adviser said, would strongly welcome international initiatives to develop financial derivatives to cope with disasters and adaptation costs.

"A one-meter sea-level rise will submerge about one-third of the total area of Bangladesh thereby uprooting 25-30 million of our people," he warned, adding a climatic disaster in the region is likely to push millions of our people to destitution.

"Today we are confronted with the difficult reality that the phenomenon of climate change is not a myth, and that its impacts are no more a conjecture.

I speak for Bangladesh and many others who are on the threshold of a climate Armageddon, foretold by increasingly violent and unpredictable weather paterns," Dr Fakhruddin voiced the ever-growing concerns of the least developed countries which, he said, ill-afford to absorb the impacts of climate change.

Devastating floods, cyclones, droughts and storm surges are now recurring with relentless regularity, the Chief Adviser pointed out, adding, "Climate change is fundamentally altering our lives, for example by impeding our efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals."

The high-level gathering this morning demonstrates that we are collectively and unswervingly determined to address the acute threat posed by climate change, he said.

"Climate change must be addressed now, - and it must be addressed decisively. The price of inaction would be too high," he added.

Heads of state and government of different countries atending the ongoing UN General Assembly also spoke at the first session of the thematic plenary.

Among others, presidents of Argentina, Guatemala, Czech Republic, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Ghana, Nigeria and Angola, and prime ministers of Italy, Thailand and South Korea spoke on the occasion when prime ministers of Barbados and Denmark co-chaired the session.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha Rose Migira was the facilitator.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon chaired the opening session of climate change where President of the 62nd General Assembly Dr Srgjen Kerim and renowned environmentalists of different countries took part in the discussion.

In his speech, the UN secretary-general underscored the need for global initiatives to address the climate change. He also called for transfer of technology and dissemination of knowledge to this end.

Later in the afternoon, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed also co-chaired a session on environment

The high-level plenary event of climate change was divided into four parts--- adaptation, mitigation, financing and technology transfer.

Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumder and Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim were present at the session.

Dr Fakhruddin pointed out that scientists have long warned us that a 'business as usual' approach will not reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Drastic measures are now required. Unless we stem the tide of emissions, the increase in global temperatures and sea levels may accelerate, he went on.

The Chief Adviser said response to climate change challenges must strike a balance between mitigation and adaptation.

He urged all major emiters to collectively establish and implement a global target to stabilise the atmosphere over the short, medium and long term.

"The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities must be upheld. Enlightened self-interest must guide us towards an equitable, yet effective, emission regime," he added.

Dr Fakhruddin said adaptation is necessary to cope with the unavoidable dimensions of climate change, and is essential in ameliorating near-term threats. Adequate physical, economic and institutional capacities can reduce the vulnerability of high- risk communities and groups.

He said access to appropriate adaptation technologies and know-how at affordable terms is critical.

Adaptation to climate change, he said, however, requires a long-term perspective. It needs investment - human and capital. Without sufficient and targeted funding, it may end up as empty rhetoric, he added.

The resource pool - such as the LDC Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund - remain perennially inadequate, the Chief Adviser pointed out the limitations of the UN efforts and added the Adaptation Fund created under Kyoto protocol is yet to operationalize.

Dr Fakhruddin said future framework should include specific commitments towards servicing the current and future adaptation needs and priorities of the most vulnerable economies. The resources required to meet adaptation costs should supplement the ODA that developed countries traditionally pledge for poverty alleviation and other social development

The Chief Adviser called for global commitment to fast- tracking climate funding, often at short notice. "We must also uphold the principle of equity to ensure that the most vulnerable countries, with a larger proportion of their populations at risk, receive proportionately higher amounts of resources earmarked for adaptation."

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed listed different measures undertaken by Bangladesh to facilitate adaptation and said National Water Management Plan (NWMP) takes into account climate change as a critical factor for future water supply and demand.

"We have developed a comprehensive framework to operationalize climate risk management and adaptation mainstreaming," he added.

The Chief Adviser called for a strong need to address the challenges regionally and sub-regionally and said forecasting and early warning and sharing of information can be very effective in reducing damage inflicted by natural calamities.

"We believe that a co-riparian approach to the management of regional waters will help Bangladesh and other regional countries to effectively manage soil erosion, flooding and other natural disasters," he said.

Dr Fakhruddin said Bangladesh is hosting the first ever meeting of climate change experts in Dhaka in October this year. This will enable us to reach a common position on climate change and adaptation issues prior to the Bali Conference later this year, he added.

"Our environment is a global public good and we must work together to protect it," he said.

The Chief Adviser said time is of the essence, and unilateral action is not enough. "We must turn our words into deeds, and pursue an aggressive strategy to address climate change. The post-Kyoto regime must incorporate concrete, realistic and legally binding emission and equitable reduction targets."

Dr Fakhruddin said, "We must also fully commit to meeting adaptation needs. The Bali Conference must take advantage of the goodwill expressed here to make a new beginning in this respect Waiting any longer will be at our peril."