The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Environmentalists, experts and civil society representatives at a discussion in the city urged to make mandatory an international treaty for reducing production of greenhouse gases.

They also urged green house gas producing countries to give compensations to all affected countries.

The USA is the highest green house gas producer and does not follow the Kyoto Protocol. The rate of production of Carbon-di-Oxide gas should be reduced by China and India, speakers said.

They urged all to reduce use of fossil oil and gas, start use of solar energy and make all the industries and brickfields Carbon free.

This was urged at the discussion meeting on 'Stopping use of green house gases and to ensure giving compensation to affected countries for the climate change' was held at Foundation for Research of Education and Policy Development (FREPD) auditorium yesterday jointly organised by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Front for Anti Climate Change in Bangladesh. Prof Muzaffar Ahmed, President of BAPA, presided over the meeting, while Dr Md Abdul Matin, Coordinator of the Front, presented key-note paper.

Speakers said due to increase of production of Carbon and Methane gases atmospheric temperature has increased and number of drought, floods, tidal bores and cyclone have increased. As a result, global climate is changing day by day.

All industrialised and rich countries are producing green house gases, but its impact is being faced by poor and developing countries. Earlier the USA signed the Kyoto Protocol, but then it withdrew its name from the Protocol. Australia has signed the Protocol three days ago. But the highest gas production countries in Asia India and China were not following the Protocol for production of Carbon and Methane gases, they said.

They urged all global leaders not only to adopt the Kyoto Protocol but also to reduce production of gases.

They also urged all to control use of motorised vehicles and increasing use of modern burners for cooking.

They underscored the need for using biogas and reducing pesticides during cultivation.

ASM Shahjahan, former adviser to the Caretaker Government, Prof Dr Kazi Saleh Ahmed, President of FREPD, Prof Khondkar Mokaddem Hossain, Dr Jasmine Ara Sultana, among others, spoke at the meeting.