Dhaka, 9th September 2015. Today five civil society climate networks and two climate journalist associations of the country in a joint press conference, express concern on present Environment and Forest Minister and Ministry role and urge Prime Minister to take lead in CoP (Conference of Parties) 21 Paris climate conference, which to be held in Paris during 29th November to 11th December 2015. They have also demanded a road map toward preparation and process of Paris climate conference, which should be inclusive, participatory and transparent.
The press conference was jointly organized by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan (BAPA), Bangladesh Indigenous People’s Network on Climate Change and Bio Diversity (BIPNetCCBD), Bangladesh Climate Change Journalist Forum (BCJF), Climate Change Development Forum (CCDF), Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL), Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD) and Forum for Environment Journalist in Bangladesh (FEJB).
The press conference was moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD, other speakers are Qumrul Islam Chowdhury of FEJB, Dr Abdul Matin of BAPA, Ziaul Haque Mukta of CSRL, Aminur Rasul Babul of Unnayan Dhara, Mostafa Kamal Akhanda of COAST and Sayed Aminul Haque of EquityBD. On behalf of the group Sayed Aminul Haque Have explain the written statement on behalf of the group, which includes major demands are (i) as present Environment Ministry has performed poor performance in CoP 20 Lima, for CoP 21 they urged Prime Minister personally lead the preparation and process, (ii) Government delegation must be inclusive especially for inclusion of academician, civil societies, media and private sectors, (iii) there should be an public position paper prior to the conference, and (iv) formation of government delegation should be criteria based and made in transparent and participatory process.
Qumrul Islam Chowdhury of FEJB who was acting as long time negotiator for LDCs (Least Developed Countries) in CoPs, urged not to ignore two decades of negotiation experiences in this regard, he said LDC must demand a legally binding Paris Protocol. He also mentioned that during last government there was a good example of multi stakeholder cooperation, although there was delegation number more than 100, but mostly self and NGO funded, government funding not more than 10 highest. Dr Matin expressed frustration on poor performances of Ministry in CoP 20 Lima which was basically depended upon bureaucrats. Ziaul Haque Mukta of CSRL, mentioned while there was decision on loan and matching fund in Green Climate Fund recent meeting, it was shameful that Bangladesh delegation in GCF has not opposed that while it was present Prime Minister declaration in parliament that in respect of climate finance Bangladesh will not take any loan, as Bangladesh is not at all responsible for climate change problems.
In conclusion, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD mentioned as there will be agreement to be signed and all other countries looking after the role of Bangladesh which is one the worse impacted country in this regard, then it is the time to give importance by Prime Minister herself.
