The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Paris

Bangladesh's vulnerability to global warming was eloquently discussed in French National Assembly here Wednesday as France and Brazil are poised to make a joint push at the Copenhagen climate change conference for adopting a financial framework to address the adverse impacts of the climate change on the most risky countries in Asia and Africa.

French Minister for Ecology and Sustainable Development Jean-Louis Borloo, who visited Bangladesh last month to see the devastating impact of climate change, raised the debate at a special parliament session to finalise France's position at the COP15 in Copenhagen.

"Many poor countries like Bangladesh are at the risk of deforestation, coastal erosion and flooding due to global warming… these countries need immediate help," he said initiating a crucial parliament debate Wednesday afternoon.

Borloo, the second man in the French Cabinet after the Prime Minister, said that in order to help the vulnerable countries, it would need a fund of 150 billion Euro - 5-7 billion Euro a year which should be guaranteed as complementary to existing development aid.

"We're not in a situation of rivalry, not in a situation of negotiating with rivals… What needed is solidarity amongst us and ensuring sustainable development," he said.

Expressing optimism about a legally binding agreement at the Copenhagen summit for cutting the greenhouse gas emission and financing adaptation program, the French Minister said: "We've reason to be optimistic about a deal because the countries that had not done enough in the recent past now started moving."

French National Assembly members across the board are sympathetic towards the sufferings of Bangladesh and other vulnerable countries in Africa and Asia which have no contribution towards the global warming. Supporting Borloo's stance, an opposition member said the richer countries must make efforts to help their poorest neighbours. "We should learn to live together like brothers; otherwise, we will die together like imbeciles." Paul Giacobbi MP and President of Franco-Bangladesh Friendship Group told a group of visiting Bangladesh journalists that President Nicolas Sarkozy and the EU President are very positive and active to pay for less developed countries in a bid to combat the impact of the global warming through effective adaptation program.

Officials of the French Climate and Energy Department, who are working on reaching a deal at the COP15, stressed on urgent need for action to support the adaptation program in LDCs and small island states in Asia and Africa.

Jean Lamy, Head of Climate and Energy Department, said that the financial framework to address adaptation program in the frontline states of the climate change should begin from the next year.

But the question about the establishment of a dedicated fund and sources of the fund are now being strongly debated among the developed nations mainly responsible for the global warming.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kuchner and Minister of Economy Christine Legarde have been strongly promoting an idea of Innovative Financial Mechanism to set up a dedicated fund to support the mitigation and adaptation to the climate change.

They think that a nominal 5 cent tax on 1000 Euro in international financial transaction could raise a fund of 35 billion Euro every year. This could generate new money to support adaptation projects in most vulnerable countries.

Jean Lamy observed that the additional money should be given against adaptation projects prepared by vulnerable countries. Bangladesh has already prepared a national climate change strategy and action plan which has been praised by the country's development partners and donors.

Bangladesh government estimated 10 billion dollars as immediate need to implement its projects for adaptation to the climate change.

There is a strong belief among French politicians and officials that the Copenhagen summit must be successful if the world leaders could make political commitment to cut the carbon emission within the set targets to promote clean energy.

They welcome China's voluntary announcement to cut the carbon intensity of its economy by 40 percent by 2020 and US President Obama's indication to cut the greenhouse gas in phases.