Climate Talks
Dhaka to take firm stance
Says Hasan Mahmud
State Minister for Environment and Forests Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday urged members of Bangladesh delegation in the UNFCCC climate talks to take strong position for Copenhagen Accord as well as properly articulate the vulnerability of the country.
Dr Hasan said this at a meeting at his office with the members of delegation taking part in the next round of climate negotiation beginning in Bonn, Germany from August 2 to 6, 2010.
The meeting was held to give political guidance to the delegation as the negotiation entered a new phase before Cancun climate conference in November this year.
As many as 120 countries have expressed their association with the Copenhagen Accord, many countries, particularly India and China, also major emitters, are out to frustrate the process saying the accord was made up developed countries without consensus among parties.
“We support Copenhagen Accord as it contains many of our demands and recognised the urgent needs of the developing countries which are mostly exposed to climate change,” Dr Hasan said.
Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment and Forests Gias Uddin, Secretary Dr Mihir Kanti Majumder, Dr Atiq Rahman, Prof Ainun Nishat and other members of the delegation were present at the meeting.
The state minister said as a member of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) we have to make our best effort to raise our demands. But we have to find new option to differentiate our vulnerability from other developing countries for our survival.
In this context, the state minister mentioned about BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) position in the negotiation, with quantified emission over 35 percent, but apparently opposing the most vulnerable countries (MVC) issue.
He directed the members to take an initiative to mobilise the (MVC) as recognised in the Copenhagen Accord, but opposed by some states in the G-77 group.
“If they can create a separate platform named BASIC for their sustainable development, why we can not forge unity under 'MVC' for our existence,” he posed the question.
Dr Hasan urged the delegation to raise their voice in different forum for release of the first track finance committed by the developed countries for adaptation.
He said Bangladesh support continuation of the Kyoto Protocol (KP). But the country also supports bringing all major emitters in the same cage to reduce total emission as science demands.
“With active participation of all big emitters, many of them remain out of the obligation under KP, you can not reduce global warming,” the minister added.
Dr Hasan also urged for strengthening bilateral process for adaptation, mitigation and technology transfer because of very slow progress of the multilateral process to help the developing countries to cope with climate adversities.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 
Related News
Boy found dead in Ctg monastery
5 July 2022, 18:00 PM
Crime & Justice
Eid joy marred by tragedy
5 July 2022, 18:00 PM
Bangladesh
Sitakunda Blast: Who started the fire?
5 July 2022, 18:00 PM
Accidents & Fires
Railway’s east zone reels from manpower crisis
5 July 2022, 18:00 PM
Transport
Barred from rally at Suhrawardy, BNP to hold protest across country tomorrow
13 November 2016, 07:30 AM
Politics
Comments