Bangladesh in the negotiations

Guest blog from Farjana Akter, VOICE, Bangladesh


Climate changes have massively influenced the life of millions of people all over the world. In South Asia Bangladesh is the most affected country. Increased rainfall, droughts, changes in the monsoon pattern, recurring floods and warm winters are all obvious syndromes of climate change. In the past year terrible cyclone Sidr damaged 8.9 million peoples life in Bangladesh. Sea level rise over the last ten years has already eroded 65 per cent of the landmass of the islands of Kutubdia (250 square kilometers), Bhola (227 square kilometers) Sandwip (180 square kilometers) (NCCB).

In the negotiations Bangladesh has been trying to play a vital role as a disaster prone country. Bangladesh demanded to set-up an International Adaptation Centre in Dhaka under the UN framework. The main objective of the centre would be research on how to adapt to climate change.

Bangladesh has asked for a climate change fund, under the UNFCC, which must be in addition to the existing official development assistant commitments made by rich countries of 0.7 percent of gross national product. Bangladesh also demanded that contributions to the Fund must be mandatory not voluntary. Such funds are needed as compensation from rich countries for the climate damage they have caused.

The Bangladesh delegation also asked for developing a mechanism, with the help of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to create an index on the vulnerability of people in each country to climate change.

Bangladesh included the "international migration issue" on the agenda of one of the contact group discussions. They sought to get countries to agree that climate change victims will get the chance of international migration if their homes are destroyed by climate change.

Developing countries are less responsible for climate change but are suffering most from the adverse impacts. All countries must agree to an international cap on emissions. Developed countries have to commit to take the lead in making technology cheaper and transferring it to developing countries.

We have to wait a few more days to see the final outcome of the Poznan convention. Developed countries must show support for climate justice and a fair negotiation within the convention framework.

At Poznan, we call on Parties to ensure equity and justice for all the people in different countries who are already displaced from their homes and livelihoods due to climate change.