Dhaka for quick release of 'fast track' climate fund

10 May 2010, 18:00 PM

Bss, Dhaka

Bangladesh has called upon the developed countries for quick disbursement of the `fast track' fund of 30 billion US dollar as committed in the climate conference in Copenhagen for adaptation. In the informal climate dialogue held in Petersburg last week, Bangladesh also stressed the need for technology transfer to developing countries for free to strengthen their capacity to combat climate change. German Chancellor Angela Markel and Mexican President Felipe Calderon hosted the dialogue to discuss the way forward in the UN climate change negotiations ahead of next round of formal negotiations. "In the dialogue we emphasised quick disbursement of `fast track' fund and technology transfer free of cost as was spelled out in the Copenhagen Accord," State Minister for Environment and Forests Dr Hasan Mahmud, who attended the dialogue, told BSS at his office in the city yesterday. "Adaptation is urgent for us while mitigation is the ultimate solution," he said explaining the position of Bangladesh with other LDCs in the dialogue. He said, "As one of the most vulnerable countries (MVCs), we have also stressed the resolution adopted in the Copenhagen Accord for giving preferential treatment to most vulnerable developing countries, such as the least developed countries, small island states and Africa." In a workshop on adaptation, on the sidelines of the dialogue, Bangladesh also urged all polluting countries for delivering their shared responsibilities to address the climate change issue. "Our position was that all major polluters should take their responsibility," he said adding "Global warming could not be checked only with emission reduction target of developed nation. The Petersburg dialogue called for providing necessary political guidance to the negotiators empowering them to take a decision in the next round of meeting to be held in Bonn from May 31 to June 11.