Mostafa Kamal Akanda & Rezaul Karim Chowdhury :: Seven civil society networks of Bangladesh in a press conference has termed the Doha Climate Conference outcome in fact is for climate injustice toward climate vulnerable countries like Bangladesh and let the developed countries to do inaction in respect of finance and carbon emission.
The press conference titled “Doha Gateway: Life and Death Situation” has been organized by seven Bangladeshi civil society networks namely Bangladesh Poribesh Andoloan (BAPA), Bangladesh Indigenous People Network for Climate Change and Bio Diversity (BIPNetCCBD), Climate Change Development Forum (CCDF), Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL), Climate Finance Governance Network (CFGN), Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD) and Network on Climate Change Bangladesh (NCCB).
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD moderates the press conference while Mizanur Rahman Bijoy of NCCB reads out the written press statement. Dr. Ahsanuddin Ahmed of CGC/CSRL, Zakir Hossain Khan of CFGN, Mrinal Tripura of BIPNetCCBD, Golam Mortoza, the Editor of Shaptahik and Qumrul Islam Chowdhury of EJFB give their speech in the press conference.
In written press statement the group mentioned several fundamental weakness in Doha outcome, i.e., second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol, in fact which is like life support, without science-based substances, e.g., in respect of mitigation commitment of 18% carbon reduction by developed countries is not science-based which should have been 40 to 45% from 1990 level. It means the planet in fact reaching towards 4 degree Celsius increased by the end of this century, which will create more climate catastrophes in future. There is no commitment of finance for adaptation too, e.g., there is only commitment of continuous funding without any figures. Developing country proposal was to get $60 billion by 2015 and a road map to ensure earlier commitment of $100 billion from 2020.
The only ray of hope was there it is an acceptance of international mechanism in respect of Loss and Damage discourse, but it also depends on the decision of CoP 19/ climate conference, which would take place in Poland at the end of 2013. Due to the position of USA equity and CBDR (common but differentiated responsibilities) principles has been eliminated, which means developed countries are not taking historical responsibility anymore. The group proposed a national climate commission as a state supra body like in Philippines which should coordinate climate negotiation, finance and climate action plan in future.
Dr. Ahsanuddin Ahmed mentioned the Doha outcome as a tiger without nails and teeth. He also mentioned that Bangladesh has to be ready to run climate adaptation programs and other development with its own money. Zakir Hossain Khan mentioned that Bolivia played a far more challenging role the conference with only 6 member delegations compared to a big Bangladesh delegation. Mr. Golam Mortaza speaks on his own behalf not as the part of the group and raises questions of huge government delegation. He demands accountability of NGO delegations too. He demand that there should be written position on Bangladesh declared at least three month before of such conference, so that there would be consistency in this regard. Qumrul Islam Chowdhury and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury underscore the need of integrated national foreign policy with the integration of climate diplomacy, doing home work in prior, so that Bangladesh will be able to reflect their own situation, mobilize and lead others in this regard what Philippine delegation did in this time.
