PM urged to demand climate treaty in UN Summit

Staff Correspondent: Twenty-three organizations including farmers, labor, civil society right groups in a Human Chain held in front of the National Press Club urged the Prime Minister to raise the demand of a legally binding climate treaty during the UN Sustainable Development Summit, as it is indispensible towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

They also urged the Bangladesh Prime Minister to demand a clear and effective guideline of financial arrangement that is required to make the SDGs successful, specially in the least developing countries. These demands were placed from a human chain titled ‘Dear PM, tell our voice in UN: Legally Binding Climate Agreement is Indispensible for SDG Implementation’ which was organized by EquityBD and supported by CANSA and Action 2015.  23 organizations participated in the event.  
 
A written statement on behalf of the organizers was read out by Mustafa Kamal Akanda of EquityBD, among others Badrul Alam of Bangladesh Krishak Federation, Subal Sarkar of Bangladesh Bhumihin Somity, Jayed Iqbal Khan of Bangladesh Krishak Federation, Aminur Rasul Babul of Unnayan Dhara, Kader Hazari of ARPAN, Abdul wahab of Jatiyo Sromik Jot, Kazi Hafizur Rahman of Public Service Institute also spoke at the occasion.  

Mustafa Kamal Akanda Said, Bangladesh is losing 2-3 billion dollar each year due to the Climate Change impact, though Bangladesh is not responsible for the climate change. Since there is no legally binding arrangements, countries responsible for climate change are not willing to reduce carbon emission, which results about 60% increase in the Carbon emission.  To reduce carbon emission and to save the countries like Bangladesh a legally binding Climate Treaty is must and it is indispensible towards the implementation of SDGs. No development goals can be fulfilled without proper arrangement on facing the challenge of climate change.  Bangladesh is also experiencing a huge number of climate forced migrants, there should be a separate protocol under the UN recognizing these migrants as Universal Natural Person. As almost all the World leaders will be in the summit, our Prime Minister should use the opportunity to raise the issues on behalf of the people of Bangladesh and also of the LDC countries.   

Aminur Rasul Babul said, it was calculated that to achieve MDGs Bangladesh would need 3.5 billion foreign aid per year, but Bangladesh got aid of only 1.58 billion dollar. It is evident that, rich countries failed to fulfill their commitment of fanatical support towards least developed countries. To achieve SDGs financial and technical support will be needed, this time a clear and effective structural arrangement of financial support from the rich countries must be there. We demand this arrangement from this summit.

Badrul Alam Said, Farmers are not responsible for climate change yet they the sufferer. We are paying for consumerism of the rich countries. As the leader of agriculture based country, our prime minister should raise this issue.

Kazi Hafizur Rahman said, to ensure effective achievement of SDGs, least development countries should be equipped with capacity of facing the challenges of climate change. Rich countries should recognize their historical responsibilities and they must come forward to ensure financial and technical support to the LDCs in this regard.

risingbd/DHAKA/Sept 23, 2015/Shafiq/Augustin Sujan