Inform people on Rio+20 summit
Say speakers
Speakers yesterday underscored the need for policymakers and the masses to be more sensitised on sustainable development, green growth and the upcoming Rio+20 summit to achieve a better deal while protecting national interest in global negotiations.
They were addressing a national consultation titled “Sustainable Development, Green Growth and Rio+20: Civil Society Perspective”, organised by Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (FEJB) at the capital's Jatiya Press Club.
Eminent environmentalist Dr Atiq A Rahman of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies emphasised the importance of achieving sustainable development across the world.
“The environmental, ecological and economic problems are so challenging that we now urgently require planning for the planet as a whole since no national and regional effort would face this global crisis,” he said.
He said inter-generational, intra-generational and inter-national equity have to be ensured while governance, human rights and freedom must be improved to cut back poverty and achieve green growth.
“Green economy should not turn into green businesses of the industrialised rich countries at the expense of the developing countries like Bangladesh,” warned Dr Abdul Matin, general secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon.
FEJB Chairman Quamrul Islam Chowdhury, chairing the consultation, presented a keynote where he traced down the evolution of the concepts of sustainable development and green economy.
He also outlined Bangladesh's preparations for the Rio+20 summit, to be held in Brazil from June 20 to 22, 20 years after the Earth summit was held in Rio in 1992.
Zakir Hosain Khan of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) underscored the need for ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of global climate funds.
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