Ensure adequate green funds 17.05.2011
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http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=186073
The industrialised nations should provide adequate fund for adaptation and easy access of green technology at an affordable price to vulnerable economies, urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday at Geneva.
"The fund, we envisage should be adequate, sustainable and easily accessible to meet the full cost of adaptation," she said while speaking at the high-level segment of the 16th Congress of World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) at Geneva International Conference Centre.
Contribution to this fund should be based on population and vulnerability ratio, she said and urged the developed nations to make the climate fund "operational" soon for adaptation.
Presided over by WMO President Alexander Bedritskiy, the opening session of the congress was also addressed by First Vice-President Ali Mohammad Nooriyan, Second Vice-president Tyrone Sutherland and Third Vice-President Antonio Divino Moura.
Heads of state and government and ministers of member countries and territories attended the high-level segment of the congress.
Earlier on her arrival at the centre, the Bangladesh Premier was received by WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud.
Speaking on the occasion, the Bangladesh Premier placed emphasis on crafting a binding agreement on greenhouse gas emissions cut against the backdrop of looming danger of global climate change.
She said the only way to save our planet and ourselves is collective action for reducing the emissions of greenhouse gas as some countries are facing the climate challenges today but tomorrow the whole world will suffer.
"The emission reduction has to be on the basis of equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities with the participation of all countries," she asserted.
Referring to successes of the world leaders in evolving a consensus in the Kyoto Protocol and the Bali Plan of Action after the Rio Summit, and their failure in Copenhagen and Cancun, Sheikh Hasina said they should not miss the opportunities in Durban.
Laying emphasis on improving the ability to predict climate and to help users incorporate the information into their decision making, she said Global Framework for Climate Services needs to operate at global, regional and national levels.
On Bangladesh's vulnerability to climate change in terms of scale and intensity, Sheikh Hasina said despite a negligible emitter of greenhouse gases, Bangladesh is the worst victim of global warming.
For several decades, she said, Bangladesh has been experiencing erratic patterns of floods, river erosions, cyclones, earthquake murmurs, tidal bores, encroachment of salinity in the low-lying coastal areas due to sea rise, and desertification.
"These natural disasters have been threatening our food, water and health security, biodiversity, ecological balance, as well as diminishing livelihood options and income levels," she added.
On her country's endeavours to tackle climate change challenges, she said her government has adopted a 134-point Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan to this end.
She said without waiting for assistance from others, her government has established a Climate Change Trust Fund with an initial capital of $200 million.
Mentioning scientific studies, she said that a meter rise in sea level by 2050 would submerge one-fifth of the country displacing over 20 million people.
Health Minister Dr AFM Ruhal Haque, PM's Health Adviser Prof Syed Modasser Ali, State Minister for Environment and Forests Dr Hasan Mahmud, Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, MP, Awami League's Health Affairs Secretary Badiuzzaman Dablu and Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad, among others, were present.
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