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WorldWatch
Institute: Bangladesh Is At the Front Line of Climate Change
Dr.
Faizul Islam
The
Embassy of Bangladesh, in conjunction with the WorldWatch
Institute and the International Club of DC held a panel
discussion on, “Confronting Climate Change: Bridging
the North-South Divide” on Saturday, May 16 at 7:00
pm at the embassy premise. Over 100 Americans including
pro-environmentalis ts attended the discussion. This was
a tickected event. Panelists included, Bangladesh Ambassador
to the United States, His Excellency Humayun Kabir, WorldWatch
Institute President Christopher Flavin, National Geographic
Magazine Executive Editor Dennis Dimick, WorldWatch Institute
China Program Manager Yingling Liu, Global Envirnonment
Facility Adaption and Country Relations Officer Rawleston
Moore and Energy Action Coalition Executive Director of
Programs Jessy Tolkan. Mr. Flavin presided over this lively
discussion. (Background of the panel discussion: Fifteen
years after international climate negotiations began at
Rio Earth Summit in 1992, the Bali Road Map and Plan outlined
the steps needed to reach a new international climate change
in Copenhagen by the end of 2009. In advance of the Copenhagen
discussions, there is a strategic opportunity for governments
and peoples from across the world to work together to a
shared problem and forge a new global agreement on climate
change. With seven months remaining, wide disparity between
the United States, Europe, China and India is yet to be
bridged. The issues include, but not limited to, emissions
reductions, cap and trade (bill now moving through U.S.
Congress), and technology transfer. Yesterday’s panel
discussion was geared to this end).
In his introductory
remarks, Mr. Flavin said that Bangladesh is at the front
line of climate change, and thanked the Bangladesh Ambassador
for providing the embassy premise, an appropriate venue,
to hold the discussion on climate change. He pointed out
that his international research organization focuses on
innovative solutions to global environmental problems. He
said that the developed countries were largely responsible
for climate change but the developing countries were the
most adversely affected. He said the purpose of this panel
discussion was in light of the ensuing Copenhagen discussions.
Speaking very
eloquently from his well-researched text, (a view echoed
by others from the audience) Ambassador Kabir thanked the
WorldWatch Institute and the International Club of DC for
partnering with the Bangladesh Embassy in this common cause.
He extolled the role of these two reputed institutions in
forging a better understanding among peoples and governments
on climate change. He also dwelled on the science of climate
change, and bilateral and international efforts to avoid
catastrophic effects of climate change. In particular, he
praised the steps being taken by the Obama administration
to address the issue of climate change and reiterated Bangladesh’s
willingness to work bilaterally and internationally too.
Recognizing the gravity of the issue, he also mentioned
that State Foreign Minister, Dr. Hasan Mahmood, an environmental
scientist, met with Mr. Flavin last Monday in Washington
DC.
Ambassador
Kabir told the audience that Bangladesh is facing catastrophic
damage due to climate change. For example, in 2007, Bangladesh
was devastated by two successive floods, and one powerful
cyclone that affected the lives of more than 8 million people.
If the Himalayan glacier were to melt, more than 70 million
Bangladeshis would be uprooted due to rising sea levels
– reversing the gains Bangladesh has achieved so far
and complicating the quality and quantity of water supply,
that is provided from more than 50 trans border rivers.
He remarked, “Bangladesh is a microcosm of the challenges
faced by around 100 vulnerable countries in the world.”
Ambassador Kabir
said Bangladesh, a victim of climate change, is fighting
back with its meager resources. Bangladesh has developed
a strategy based on two pillars; policy and the people.
At the policy level, an action plan known as the National
Adaptation Plan of Action(NAPA) , which among other things,
is focusing on ensuring food, livelihood and health security,
and effective disaster management. (It may be mentioned
for the readers that the Oregon Governor visited Bangladesh
embassy on February 23 to develop and establish bilateral
cooperation on a number of issues, including disaster management.
Because Oregon is a coastal state, the governor expressed
interest to learn from the Bangladesh’s successful
experiences on disaster management). The Hasina government
has recently formed two separate high-powered committees-namely
strategy and action plan committee and fund operation committee
to prepare climate change strategies and manage the $44
million fund. (It may be mentioned that the Danish government
has made a commitment to contribute 10 million kroner to
this fund. During his recent visit to Washington DC, Dr.
Mahmood urged the U.S. government t o contribute to this
fund).
At the people
level, Bangladesh has set up the Knowledge Network on Climate
Change (KNOCC) to train and disseminate, knowledge and information
on climate change at the grass root level through nongovernmental
agencies (NGOs) and CBOs. A Global Initiative on Community
based Adaptation to Climate Change (GIBACC) was formed in
Dhaka with the participation of 250 representatives from
50 countries with a view to promoting community based adaptation
to climate at home and abroad.
Termed as “Al
Gore On His Own’ by environmentalists, Mr. Dimick showed
a 15-minute documentary on “Climate and Energy.”
This documentary is being shown to the public and politicians
throughout the country to raise public awareness. His documentary
has three photos on Bangladesh that show its sea levels
will rise as a result of climate change. He pointed out
that one-fifth of emissions were due to deforestation. Since
1880, eight out of 10 warmest years, were during the last
ten years, i.e., 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002,
2001, 1998.
Mr. Liu discussed
the causes of climate change in China and her government’s
efforts to address it.
Mr. Moore said
that the issue of climate change has to be addressed with
all sincerity at the international level because it is an
issue of mere “survival” for poor countries with
coastal regions. He said his organization provides funds
to governments to address climate change.
Ms. Tolkan spoke
with optimism, in that, a serious and genuine effort is
underway in the U.S. to address the issue of climate change.
Her grass-root organization is working relentlessly to raise
awareness among the public and politicians. The Energy Action
Coalition (EAC) is working diligently to ensure its candidates
get elected in US Congress. Her organization was very active
in registering and motivating 500,000 young Americas to
vote for Mr. Obama in the recent presidential election.
In addition, her EAC is mobilizing the public to ensure
the safe passage of the “Cap and Trade” bill now
moving through US Congress and to make the Copenhagen discussion
a great success.
A 30-minute
cultural program was held to entertain the audience, followed
by a sumptuous dinner. As always, the food was very delicious.
Yesterday’s
event was very successful which would not have been possible
without the selfless and tireless efforts of all embassy
officials and staff members.
Dr. Faizul
Islam
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