A.K.M. Atiqur Rahman :

Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended the World Climate Summit COP-26 held on 1 and 2 November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. In addition, she has participated in several other important events, mostly related to climate issue. Sheikh Hasina’s participation as the current President of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), an organization of 48 countries at risk due to climate change, was of utmost importance. She has also chaired the ‘CVF COP-26 Leaders Dialogue’.

We know that the United Nations has taken this initiative in the name of ‘Conference of the Parties (COP)’ in view of the adverse effects of climate change in many countries of the world. The first conference (COP-1) was held in 1995. Subsequently, as the issue became more important, an agreement was signed in Paris in 2015 called the ‘Paris Agreement’ to address global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In that agreement, everyone agreed that global warming should not exceed 2 degrees Celsius more than that in the pre-industrial era to avoid climate catastrophe. At the same time, there were plans to halve the world’s carbon emissions by 2030 and reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2050.

But in reality, no progress could be made in reducing carbon emissions. On the contrary, global warming is increasing day by day due to the increase in the use of fossil fuel. On the other hand, many oil-rich countries continue to ignore these climate issues. We are constantly witnessing those. Extreme weather conditions associated with climate change, such as hurricanes, wildfires and floods, are intensifying. This year’s floods have killed at least 200 people in a developed country like Germany. Even in Canada, where severe forest conflagrations have occurred, the North Pole of Siberia has been seen burning. In other words, the world is moving towards the risk of a great catastrophe. It will be difficult to save the world from this catastrophe unless effective collective action is taken on an urgent basis.

At the COP-26, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has placed four proposals to fight climate change. Those were (a) the major emitters of carbon gas must submit ambitious “Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)” to reduce global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius; (b) the developed countries should fulfill their pledge of providing US$100 billion to the climate fund annually with a 50:50 balance between adaptation and mitigation; (c) the developed countries should disseminate clean and green technology at affordable costs to most vulnerable countries and (d) the issue of loss and damage must be addressed, including global sharing of responsibility for climate migrants displaced by sea-level rise, salinity increase, river erosion, floods, and draughts. On the sidelines of the COP-26, she has attended a high-level discussion meeting on women and climate change, where she highlighted the urgency of women’s equal participation with men to build communities resilient to climate change.

While briefing on Bangladesh’s initiatives and programmes concerning climate issue, like ‘Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan’, and ‘Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund’, she said that Bangladesh has submitted an ambitious and updated NDC to UNFCCC. She said that Bangladesh has one of the world’s most extensive domestic solar energy programme and is expecting to have 40 percent of the country’s energy from renewable sources by 2041. She has also informed the conference that Bangladesh has cancelled 10 coal-based power plants involving 12 billion dollars of foreign investment, just to supplement its efforts against the adverse impacts of climate change.

Sheikh Hasina has not only represented Bangladesh in this conference, she has also led the 48 countries at risk of climate change. Obviously, her role was different from that of other world leaders. All her discourses and diplomatic foresights were crucial. She has taken the responsibility of conveying the message of hope to the affected countries by holding talks with the industrialised countries which contribute the most to the carbon emissions. This conference has provided her with a chance to prove herleadership on behalf of the countries vulnerable to climate change.

Undoubtedly, industrialised countries are mostly responsible for promoting the catastrophe caused by climate change in the world. So those countries should have to play an important role in mitigating the sufferings caused by them. Has it been possible to reduce the carbon emissions of those countries to the desired level? Have they adopted the necessary technology or technical management for this? Are they paying their proper share to the climate fund? Has necessary technical assistance been provided to the affected countries? Or are the Paris Agreement and the last 25 COPs confined to mere decisions and promises? The success or failure of this conference depends on the answers to these questions.

The industrialised nations must play a leading role in all steps and processes to overcome the damage that has already taken place and to prevent further adverse effects in the future. One thing should not be forgotten that their countries and people are not also getting relief from the adverse effects of climate. Acknowledging their role in climate change, they must come forward with a liberal mindset to save the planet, and they are already committed to it. And the main purpose will be thwarted, if the necessary funds, technical assistance and proper use of these two are not ensured. If these issues are neglected, it will be very difficult to handle the situation at some point.

People must be protected from the negative effects of climate change. Coastal countries or vulnerable territories are suffering the most. Smaller island nations, such as Vanuatu, the Maldives, and the Marshall Islands, are slowly sinking due to rise of sea levels. On the other hand, we can also feel various changes in nature which are becoming more and more evident day by day. Just as humans are destroying vegetation, so is nature losing its balance due to climate change, and warming is on the rise. People’s health is at risk. Maybe that’s why an epidemic like Covid-19 has made the world worried.

For obvious reason, CVF President Sheikh Hasina has emphasized the need for more funding to protect the interests of high-risk countries. Since most of the countries in this forum are LDCs, low- or middle-income developing countries, they need funding and expert assistance to help them develop appropriate strategies and technologies to address the effects of climate change. On the other hand, it is necessary to ensure fair and efficient use of the money of the climate fund. Otherwise, it will be difficult to get the desired results from the projects to be taken. That is the reality. At the same time, industrialised nations need to ensure that they are also using the technology to reduce existing carbon emissions below a certain level.

Bangladesh has been playing an important role in all international forums on the issue of climate change. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been leading those forums with prudence and determination. She has been representing 48 countries at climate change risk. We have seen her boldness in the present conference. However, we cannot expect something extraordinary to happen overnight because those who contribute the most to climate risk are the ones who control all the politics and economics of the world. But we, the sufferers, should not give up; the pressure must continue. This earth belongs to everyone, everyone must save it together. A green-fresh carbon-free world needs to be created and protected. If the nature loses its balance, we may have to face a catastrophe worse than the Covid-19 in the future. We want to avoid the existing panic of adverse effects of climate. Hopefully, those countries would pay more attention to this issue, which are making all such troubles to the people of the world.

As per practice, a declaration or statement would be issued at the end of the conference, may be on 12 November. It is expected that the conference has already taken note of Sheikh Hasina’s proposals and thoughts. Anyway, we hope the unanimous declaration will not disappoint the victims like us and firm commitments would come from the world leaders to save the globe.

The writer is a former Ambassador and Secretary