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WTO Loses Legitimacy as Affected Communities, CSO Shut Out of Normal Participation at MC13 in Abu Dhabi, Global Civil Society Condemns

Abu Dhabi 28 February 2024: Non-governmental representatives participating in the third day of the MC13 of WTO in Abu Dhabi condemned the disruption of their normal activities in the name of security.

Three of the NGO representatives were detained for various allegations in the first two days. They were detained for one to two hours and then released. Among them was an Indian peasant leader handing a paper to a journalist he knew. He was immediately arrested for allegedly distributing leaflets inside the convention centre, a detainable offence. Two other non-government delegates from Norway and the United States were arrested for taking pictures inside the convention centre. The security also stopped leaflet distribution, confiscated placards, and stopped them from taking photos of their own actions.

“This is my 11th MC and I’ve never seen anything like this level of repression. The WTO Secretariat has insisted that it is working towards clarifying things with the host country. But we see no evidence that the DG – who is widely known as a person who, shall we say, can get her way when she wants – is insisting on our rights being restored.” said Deborah James, facilitator of the global Our World Is Not for Sale (OWINFS) network of CSOs.

The WTO Director General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has billed this Ministerial as the most “open, transparent and inclusive process” to date. Yet her institution is failing to ensure participants that the guiding information communicated by the WTO, and the prevailing practice with regards to what civil society can do, actually holds for MC13, Ms James added.

“Participants, especially from developing countries, are fearful of even walking alone in the conference centre now, lest they be unjustly detained and possibly deported, and then unable to secure visas ever again. This climate of fear should not be the result of advocacy in an institution of global economic governance,” said Rahmat Maulana Sidik, Executive Director of Indonesia for Global Justice.

“It was a long way to Abu Dhabi from my country. I came here to get work done, and I do not feel safe to do the normal activities that I always do in Ministerial Conferences. The uncertainty of not knowing if I will be detained just for giving away my research is paralyzing me from doing what I am supposed to do,” said Sofia Scasserra, researcher from Argentina with the Transnational Institute.

EquityBD Policy Research Coordinator Barkat Ullah Maruf said that the participation of NGO representatives is very important. Because they help government representatives to make public-oriented decisions with various information and analyses. But such obstruction is reprehensible.

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Stop the Illegitimate Anti-development Investment Facilitation Agreement Now!!

Tonight (25 February 2024), a sub-group of WTO Members will celebrate the conclusion of a break-away agreement on investment facilitation and try to secure its adoption as a plurilateral agreement at this week’s 13th ministerial conference.  That can only be done by consensus.

The convenors – South Korea and Chile, backed by China – have announced that plan, in the face of sustained objections from India and South Africa that these negotiations have no legitimacy.

WTO Members have explicitly rejected attempts to get an investment agreement ever since 1996. A decision in 2004 said no discussion of investment negotiations in the WTO until the Doha round is over. It is not. In the 2015 Nairobi Ministerial Conference, WTO Members agreed that any such new issues will only be addressed if agreed by all Members.

“Not only is there no mandate for these negotiations, there is a negative mandate. Countries who are trying to push this through at the MC13 are breaching fundamental WTO rules”, says Deborah James, facilitator of the Our World is Not for Sale network.

How do they plan to get the agreement adopted against this backdrop?

First, shameful bullying, mainly by China, has brought the Investment Facilitation agreement to this point. Ms James said “we have heard hair-raising stories about pressure being brought at political levels in capital, often by-passing the trade officials who could analyse and provide informed advice on this”.

Second, the Director-General has gone far beyond her legitimate role as an international public official, who are legally required to be neutral. In what New zealand law professor Jane Kelsey condemned as “an appalling abuse of D-G Ngozi’s position and mandate”, D-G Ngozi attacked India and South Africa as depriving developing countries of the benefits of these agreements, when what they have been insisting is that WTO acts in accordance with its own rules.

Third, pretending this Investment Facilitation Agreement is for development is a sham” according to Simon Eppel of South African union centre COSATU. “There is no ‘development’ in this agreement.”

The main reasons that foreign investors don’t come to many developing countries, LDCs and small island developing states – the stark realities of poverty, distance and geography, small scale, poor infrastructure, high costs. Foreign companies that do invest are mainly seeking to extract super-profits from exploiting natural resources.

“The long history of investment agreements shows this won’t address any of those issues. What countries really need is a commitment to actively facilitate investment to strategic sectors countries need, and which is reponsible and genuinely advances their development”, said Lucia Barcena from Transnational Institute.

In addition, developing countries will carry the burden of implementing what most developed countries already do, but with no guarantee of funding. And to make repeated notifications of progress, when they already struggle to meet their existing WTO obligations.

Finally, “we fear these dirty tactics will continue in the ministerial itself”, Deborah James warned. “The IF agreement is not on the formal agenda, so how will they introduce it and block opposing Members from exposing the lack of consensus? Efforts to force it through will further undermine the WTO’s already shaky legitimacy”.

This attempt to bypass all the WTO’s own rules cannot be allowed to set a precedent, because it will open the door to a future free for all by more powerful WTO Members and because developing countries will carry the burden of the IF and other similar deals.

Barkat Ullah Maruf from COAST Foundation, Bangladesh, said the NGO representatives attempted to distribute papers on the problems with Investment Facilitation for Development, but the security seized their papers. This is against the democratic practice, he said.

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WTO must comply SDG to develop people’s lives

Draft Position Paper on WTO Seminar in Bangladesh

Opinion expressed in the seminar is reflected here

We want Bangladesh to act for Least Developed Countries

WTO’s Mandate is to Improve People’s Lives

Not to Facilitate the Unfair Corporate Trade

Introduction

WTO is the official international organisation that sets rules for global trade and resolves disputes if necessary. After three decades of domination, it has nowadays come under criticism from the global civil society for its roles and decisions. The main point of criticism is that, although they say their main goal is to improve people’s living standards through the expansion of trade. But, in reality, they have repeatedly focused on expanding the trade of the wealthiest corporations in rich countries and maximising their profits. We think the main reason for this is the influence of rich countries and their corporations on it.

One positive change is that they have created opportunities for civil society participation alongside government delegations at WTO ministerial conferences for the last few years. Civil society worldwide is now working to positively engage with their government delegations regarding their country’s trade situation, human rights, and poverty alleviation plan while attending the WTO ministerial conferences. Some governments, especially of the least developed or developing countries, are now somewhat aware of the hidden costs of the trade offers, and their active participation is causing WTO’s decision-making to be delayed or sometimes postponed. However, the advantage is that monopolist and rich countries cannot impose their corporate decisions at their convenience.

However, the least developed countries have not fully enjoyed the benefits yet. Many decisions are still forced and favoured by the rich countries, or rather by the neoliberal economies. Nonetheless, the LDC managed to get some benefits like TRIPS Waiver, Duty-Free Quota-Free access, etc. However, many of them are yet to be implemented.

Bangladesh Situation

Bangladesh has been known as a less developed country until now. However, it will enter the ranks of developing countries within two years. Then, many of those advantages will not be the same for them. Bangladesh now has to compete directly with many other developing countries and even with developed countries and their multinational companies. We still do not have a fraction of the capabilities, capital, technology and trade skills needed to compete with developed countries and their multinationals. We cannot achieve it in such a short period of time. It is being said (with no guarantee) that some benefits will continue for the newly graduated LDCs until their graduation becomes sustainable.

Bangladesh needs to be very well-planned to meet the challenges of the changing situation. The plans should include crop production and the stability of its price, food security of poor people, reduction of import-dependence of some crops in the off-season, development of farmers’ capacity, possibilities of marine fishing and blue economy in the fisheries and aquatic sector, fishers’ capacity development including technology and capital, and how to grow the medicine industry without the TRIPS waiver. The government of Bangladesh has started working on some of the agenda. However, its success will depend on raising the demands and negotiating in favour of them. They need to establish unity with other like-minded countries on its behalf.

Agriculture, Fair Prices of Crops and Food Security

Japan, according to their Ministry of Agriculture, subsidises their agriculture by 25-28 billion dollars annually (Nikkei Asia, 30 Jan 2024). These subsidies include price support, production support, risk insurance, oil, etc. Agricultural subsidies in the US and Canada are also very high and sometimes unquantifiable as those are given in different names. However, the debate of public stockholding in WTO to provide reasonable prices of crops to the poorest farmers of poor countries as well as for food security of poor people was not solved in the last 4-5 ministerial conferences. At least it’s clear that WTO doesn’t care about the food security of poor people, though they promote this as their mandate.

Fisheries, marine fisheries, blue economy and subsidies

Rich countries provided nearly $35 billion subsidy in 2018 in their marine fisheries, of which small-scale fishers received 19%, while 80% was given to large corporate fishing companies to establish a monopoly on the world’s fisheries. In one year of this subsidy, they spent $8 billion on oil only. On the other hand, they are now discouraging developing and least developed countries from subsidising the fisheries sector. The reason, they say, is that these subsidies will contribute to the loss of fish resources and will be contrary to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. After completing their own development in the fisheries sector, they have started blocking the developing and least developed countries. They are unwilling to accept the demand of technology transfer as an alternative.

E-commerce moratorium on Customs Duty

In its Second Ministerial Conference in 1998, WTO imposed a moratorium on customs duties on electronic transactions to expand trade in digital goods. This is known as the e-commerce moratorium. Rich countries benefit as they monopolise digital trade by exploiting the lack of technological advantages of least developed and developing countries. On the other hand, LDCs and developing countries are deprived of huge revenues. The South Center, a trade research institute, showed in a study that these sanctions cost developing and least developed countries 56 billion dollars in revenue over the five-year period 2017-2022 (Rashmi Banga, 2022). The moratorium is still going on, ignoring the demands of the affected countries.

Medicine industry, TRIPS waiver, and after Covid situation

A kind of TRIPS waiver has been granted till 2034 for the development of emerging pharmaceutical industries in the LDCs and developing countries. However, there does not seem to be much assurance, or there is a laxity in implementation. LDCs, however, demanded that this period be granted until they became sustainably developing countries. In particular, discussions began about flexibility in testing and treatment of COVID-19. It was hoped that a decision in this regard would be found in the upcoming Thirteenth Ministerial Conference. However, the WTO yet to come to any decision in this regard due to the pressure of the monopolist pharmaceutical companies of the rich countries. There is no sign of any agreement either.

Conclusion

We have always had confidence in Bangladesh’s official delegation to the WTO. We believe, this time too, Bangladesh will go for the negotiation fully considering the goals of poverty alleviation, human rights, and SDG implementation. We also believe Bangladesh will formulate and implement the development plans for facing the challenges as a developing country after graduation. We want to stand up for the demands of the least developed and developing countries in the MC13 of WTO, especially in the agriculture, fisheries and e-commerce sectors. We want human rights and poverty alleviation to be prioritised above corporate profits.

Our Recommendations for Bangladesh to:

  1. Negotiate for the immediate implementation of the commitments made by the WTO at the MC12 to sustain the transition of the graduating least developed countries and to establish unity with the ally countries.
  2. Hold the position of leading the LDCs’ demands in WTO in the past few years, continue to work in favour of the LDC interest, and establish the opinion to realise those benefits fully for a few more years for its sustainability even after graduation.
  3. Demand protection for the poor farmers of Bangladesh from the heavily subsidised agro-companies and open competition with the subsidised exports, along with the binding rules for the meaningful implementation of it. Because it is involved in implementing SDG, establishing human rights, and alleviating poverty.
  4. Support the demands raised in WTO for the distribution of food to the poor and vulnerable people at low cost and/or free of charge during any adversity and disasters, for ensuring fair prices for crops, and for raising demands for obligations to implement them.
  5. Take a strong position in WTO well ahead based on the thorough assessment of what will happen to Bangladesh’s emerging pharmaceutical industry after the TRIPS waiver and what kind of impact it will have on people’s access to medicine and treatment as a developing country in the future. Establish unity with other countries in this regard. Formulate national policies, build national capacity, and allocate budgets for the pharmaceutical industry to be able to compete with other international pharmaceutical companies in the future.
  6. Immediately formulate appropriate plans for capacity building of the fisherfolks, especially in the marine fisheries sector. Ensure government allocations for technology development and efficiency in fishing. Keep small-scale and poor fishers out of the global subsidy debate and ensure allocations to improve their capacity and efficiency.
  7. Negotiate for the DFQF as appropriate for Bangladesh because it got DFQF access in some cases without proper benefits for the country. Many countries are giving this access facility for Bangladesh except for its main export product, readymade garments.
  8. Negotiate to bring back the lost revenue of the less developed and developing countries due to the e-commerce moratorium and free and unfair trade of the big-tech companies or demand other facilities in exchange. Before allowing foreign e-commerce platforms to trade freely in Bangladesh, the capacity development of domestic e-commerce platforms needs to be enhanced. An accountable e-commerce environment needs to be ensured along with capacity building, especially for small and medium entrepreneurs. Foreign e-commerce platforms should pay revenue to LDCs and developing countries.

Download Position paper click here

Civil Society Seminar on the eve of WTO MC13 : WTO’s draft text will obstruct Bangladesh’s fisheries development

Dhaka, 18 February 2024: Equity and Justice Working Group (EquityBD), a national platform of CSO and NGOs in Bangladesh, organised a seminar in Dhaka today to discuss the possible position of the Bangladesh Government delegation on the eve of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization. The seminar is co-organized by Coast Foundation, and Our World is Not for Sale, an international network working against the unjust global trading system.

Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad chaired the seminar, while Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, EquityBD’s Chief Moderator, moderated it. Dr Mohammad Tanveer Hossain Chowdhury, the Deputy Chief (Marine) of the Department of Fisheries, spoke as the panel speaker along with the other speakers, including CSRL’s Ziaul Haque Mukta, COAST Foundation’s Deputy Executive Director Sanat Kumar Bhowmik and Internet Governance Forum’s General Secretary Abdul Haque Anu.

Barkat Ullah Maruf of COAST Foundation presented the keynote at the seminar. The recommendations for the Bangladesh Delegation to the WTO MC13 mentioned in the keynote presentation include demand for the implementation of the benefits promised at the MC12 to sustain the transition of the graduation of the LDC, demand the developed countries stop subsidies on the big industrial fishing which is the responsible for overfishing and depletion of global fish stocks, and Increasing opportunities and subsidies for small-scale farmers in LDCs, removing barriers for the LDC and developing countries to generate revenue from the e-commerce transactions of big tech companies, Support the demand for public stockholding and food security in the agricultural sector, extending the TRIPS Waiver in medicines for the LDC and newly graduated developing countries to ensure poor people’s access to medicines.

Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said in his speech that dividing the countries into LDC or developed countries is humiliating. All are developing countries in one way or another. When a low-income country is called LDC, its dignity is undermined. In 1971, Bangladesh refused to accept the LDC status. However, we were forced to take this identity later in 1975. These divisions thus disadvantage low-income countries in favour of global trade and power structures.

CSRL’s Ziaul Haque Mukta said all the LDCs, even some of the developing countries, should have full market access to the markets of developed countries. They are entitled to this benefit apart from special and differential treatment. However, some rich countries unfairly deprive Bangladesh’s RMG products of that advantage. In this regard, Bangladesh should be able to file a complaint against them using the WTO’s dispute settlement procedure.

Deputy Chief of Fisheries Department (Marine) Mohammad Tanveer Hossain Chowdhury said that, according to the WTO’s proposed text, Bangladesh, as an LDC, has already harvested more than 0.8% of the quota of global fish production. So, Bangladesh cannot give subsidies to the fisheries sector. However, the fisheries agreement will not be binding unless all countries must sign it within the next two years.

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD said that since 2005 COAST Foundation has been working on and talking about the WTO issues and Bangladesh’s expected position there. If our government delegation informs us what position it will take there, we can help them.

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CSOs Demand VAT Cancellation as a Poverty Reduction Strategy

Dhaka, 17 January 2024: Twelve civil society organizations led by Equity and Justice Working Group (EquityBD) demonstrated a rally in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka today in solidarity with the global civil society network Fight Inequality Alliance on the eve of the 54th Conference of the World Economic Forum with the slogan “Tax the rich, not the poor”. The gathering demanded the necessity to abolish the regressive tax system to eliminate the severe income inequality that has been created among the people in different countries of the world, including Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Krishok Federation, Bangladesh Climate Journalists Forum, CPRD, Sundarbans and Coast Protection Movement, Online Knowledge Society, ASOD, Water Keeper Bangladesh, Trinamool Development Organization, CSRL, JSKS and Coast Foundation participated in the rally organized by Equity and Justice Working Group (EquityBD). Mostafa Kamal Akand, Director of Coast Foundation, moderated the Human Chain, while ASM Badrul Alam of Bangladesh Farmers Federation presided over the meeting.

The Assembly brought a number of recommendations, which are: the payment of taxes and revenue is the responsibility of the rich only. A balanced and fair tax system should be established through legislation and enforcement to prevent tax evasion. Research, investigation and other effective measures should be taken to prevent capital flight and profit repatriation. The tax burden on the poor and underprivileged should be eased by gradually reducing all types of indirect taxes, including VAT.

Mr Motahar Hossain, on behalf of the Bangladesh Climate Journalist Forum, said that through indirect tax, basically, one person is forced to pay the tax of the other. Common consumers typically pay taxes levied on a company. This increases the cost of living for poor people. On the other hand, the company that is making income is exempted from tax. This system needs to be changed.

Syed Aminul Hoque, Secretary of EquityBD, said that the ongoing conference of the World Economic Forum (WEF), in fact, works for the multinational profiteering companies engaged in tax dodging and money laundering from poor countries. In this context, we need a global tax network under the UN framework where poor countries can protect themselves against tax dodging, and thus, money laundering will also be stopped. We expect our Prime Minister to convey this message while participating in the 54th Annual Conference of WEF.

Mr. Imran Hossain of CPRD said that tax evasion has become a normal practice in Bangladesh. We have laws and penalties for this, but they are not enforced. Emphasis should be placed on income tax and wealth tax collection to reduce indirect taxes. Nikhil Chandra Bhadra of the Sundarbans and Coast Protection Movement said that the people of Bangladesh fought the liberation war to abolish a discriminatory social system. But now, the disparity between the rich and the poor is the highest ever in the country’s history. This disparity can be reduced through an accountable and well-governed tax system.

Pradip Kumar Roy of Online Knowledge Society said that Bangladesh has often been praised for standing up for poor people and less developed countries at international conferences. We want Bangladesh to become the voice against discrimination and poverty alleviation in the upcoming conference of the World Economic Forum. In the closing speech, ASM Badrul Alam of the Bangladesh Krishok Federation said that all indirect taxes, including VAT, should be gradually reduced to ease the tax burden on the poor, and emphasis should be placed on bringing all industrialists and corporations under direct tax to increase the government’s revenue.

Please download the related paper [Bangla Press] [English Press] [Position Paper Bangla] [Position Paper English] [Festoons] [Campaign Video]

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CSOs Urge Developed Countries to Phase Out Fossil Fuels for 1.5-Degree Goal: Developed Nations Urged to Boost UNFCCC’s Adaptation Funds for MVCs

Dubai, UAE, December 09, 2023 – During the ongoing Cop 28 Global Climate Conference in Dubai, leaders of Civil Society from Most Vulnerable Countries (MVCs) convened a press conference, have shown their deep dissatisfaction on poor progress of MVC LDCs issues and demand a concrete action plan to phase out of fossil fuel by 2050 in this CoP 28 by developed and big emitting Countries achieving 1.5-degree goal. Additionally, they call developed countries for speed up of existing specialized Adaptation Funds through adequate finance and prioritizing the MVCs needs.

The press conference, titled “LDC’s & MVC Peoples’ Expectations and CoP 28,” took place at the CoP 28 climate conference center in Dubai. Notable representatives from various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) including Mrs. Ruchi Chowdhury of CANSA [Climate Action Network-South Asia], Mr. Avishek Shrestha from Nepal, Ms. Jocelyn Perry of Refugee International, Mr. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD, Md. Shamsuddoha (Centre for Participatory Research & Development), Mr. Shamim Arfeen (AoSED), and Md. Ziaul Hoque Mukta (CSRL) participated and shared their insights. The keynote address on civil society expectations was presented by Aminul Hoque from EquityBD, Bangladesh.

Aminul Hoque said that there is deep dissatisfaction observed regarding the output of the first week negotiation process on temperature goal, financing on 100 billion USD and trend of continue underfinancing to the Adaptation and Loss & Damages funds under UNFCCC. He also criticizes some countries are exercise undue influence to derail the progress of negotiation.

He put 03 key demand relating the CoP 28 outcome. Those are i). Developed country parties will adopt a clear roadmap with concrete actions on mitigation, finance, and other supporting strategies achieving 1.5-degree goal. these actions will be based on the GST [Global Stock-take] and its recommendations and followed by science ii) Developed countries must leave their ill motive not to dilute the adaptation finance with L&D and escalate the existing specialize Adaptation fund through declaring adequate financial support within CoP 28 beyond the GCF. iii) The New goal on mobilizing finance after 2025 onward, developed countries will take lead for this mobilization through ensuring the public sources but never include the LDC-MVCs in the process.

Shamsuddoha opine that the GST has drafted four option for the move towards clean energy and achieving 1.5 degree goal and we support the first two where phase out the fossil fuel based on science and reaching global emission peaking target according Paris Agreement principle. So that global leaders must adopt the first two options.

Jocelyn Perry said climate change displaces people and often affects displaced persons to a greater degree. We are pleased to see the language on displacement and planned relocation in the Global Stocktake draft text released yesterday. We also call on Parties to scale up action and support, including finance, technical assistance, to address displacement related to the adverse impacts and risks of climate change at the regional, national, sub-national and local level as urgent action.

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury stressed to enhance of the mitigation ambitions of developed countries is fundamental to reach the 1.5 degree temperature goal and save the earth.

Ruchi Chowdhry said we push forward for phase out of fossil fuels in line with the best available science and in alignment with the IPCC’s 1.5 pathways, and the Paris Agreement’s. We need a legal international treaty in this regard.

Sharif Jamil we are experiencing the rapid change of climate that forcing displacements. CoP 28 is going forward for 2nd week and welcome the GST draft text, but commitment of climate finance is a drop in the sea. We demand adequate finance but come through reparation & compensation along with non-debt instrument.

Avishek Shrestha quoted the financing gap for adaptation around 366 billion per year and even with the doubling of adaptation finance by 2025. He further underscores the need for a drastic increase in adaptation financing from developed countries activating the adaptation funds. Shamim Arfeen criticize the meaningless commitment of financing by developed countries are hampering the effort of MVCs adaptation and resilient actions. He demands for real commitment that will be obligatory.

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Civil Societies of MVCs Demand NDC Targets for 1.5 Degree Goal: Meet cumulative overdue of 100 billion financing.

Dubai, UAE, December 04, 2023 – During the ongoing Cop 28 Global Climate Conference in Dubai, leaders of Civil Society from Most Vulnerable Countries (MVCs) convened a press conference, highlighting the critical need for tangible National Determined Contribution (NDC) targets from major carbon emitters. Their emphasis is on concrete actions to achieve the 1.5-degree temperature goal outlined in the Paris Agreement. Additionally, they call on developed countries to fulfill their long-overdue commitment of US$100 billion in financing, as promised during CoP 15.

The press conference, titled “LDC’s & MVC Peoples’ Expectations and CoP 28,” took place at the CoP 28 climate conference center in Dubai. Representatives from various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) including Md. Ziaul Hoque Mukta (CSRL), Md. Shamsuddoha (Centre for Participatory Research & Development), Mr. Shamim Arfeen (AoSED), Mr. Atle Solberg Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD), Ms. Samah Hadid Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), and Ms. Lidy Nacpil, Asia Pacific Movement on Debt & Development (APMDD) participated and shared their insights. The keynote address on civil society expectations was presented by Aminul Hoque from EquityBD, Bangladesh.

Aminul Hoque emphasized the challenge associated with the enforceability of the Paris Agreements, pointing out the absence of monitoring and reporting mechanisms for carbon emissions reduction. He criticized the CoP 28 presidency for denying the scientific basis behind achieving the Zero Emission target through the phased-out of fossil fuels. Hoque outlined key demands in favor of civil society, those are (i) developed countries must follow the scientific progress and set realistic target to achieve 1.5-degree temperature goal, (ii) They Must pay their cumulative overdue of 100 billion dollar climate finance as promised, iii Discourse of New & Collective Finance will be designed in focusing the MVCs priorities and non-debt instrumental, (iv) The synthesizing of NAP (National Adaptation Plan) will be defined as the GGA [Global Goal on Adaptation], because the NAP is prepared under UNFCCC process.

Md. Shamsuddoha opine the current process of mitigation is suicidal and he stressed the importance of establishing a mandatory timeline for submitting long-term mitigation strategies, holding all Parties accountable for a low-emission pathway, and achieving zero emissions by 2050 with a political commitment. He called for ambitious NDCs coherent with the 1.5-degree Celsius target, based on latest scientific findings.

Lidy Nacpil criticize the public finance finds itself at a crossroads. IFIs (International Financial Institutions)  and the global north governments who largely control them must stop their overreliance on the private sector. This approach that has consistently underdelivered and often caused great harm. We urgently need public finance policy, priorities, and governance to push to a 1.5-degree aligned, just transition, rooted in collective wellbeing and global and local equity. To do this, we will need to transform public finance institutions to be equitable, democratic, rights-upholding, sustainable, and transparent.  The “billions to trillions” mantra are completely unrealistic without significant changes to the system she added.

Atle Solberg expressed deep concern about displacement which is one of the major problems that is looming large at present and future context across the globe. In this context, we demand effective measures that will support the countries to address the climate induced displacement through ensuring their rights in locally and nationally.

Shamim Arfeen said that there trillion dollars available but the global leaders need to change their mindset to make the finance pro poor. Samah Hadid shared concerns about the rate of climate change occurring in the Middle East and North Africa and the lack of resources and financing to fragile and conflict affected contexts in the region. She called on states to increase financing for climate adaptation and resilience who are struggling to cope with climate change impacts. Ziaul Hoque Mukta of CSRL urges the Country Parties to strongly challenge the COP Presidency’s statement on end of fossil fuel delivered yesterday 03 December, which is against the fundamental context established the climate science and the formation of UNFCCC.

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LDCs & MVCs Call for Urgent Action to Attain the 1.5-Degree Temperature Goal

COAST and EquityBD jointly drafted a paper for CoP 28 in Dubai, urging action on behalf of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Most Vulnerable Countries (MVCs). The paper outlines critical needs, criticizes past negotiation failures since the Paris Agreement, emphasizes solidarity with CSOs, and presents key demands for fulfilling Paris Agreement goals.

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Civil Societies Urge Govt. Position to 1.5-Degree Goal and Stand-Alone L&D Fund in CoP 28

Dhaka, 11 November, 2023.  Civil society organizations (CSOs) demanded a strong govt position for a realistic NDC [National Determined Contribution] from the big emitters achieving 1.5-degree temperature goal in upcoming CoP 28 [Conference of the Parties] global climate conference.  They also advised government to demand for a stand-alone L&D Fund to manage the losses due to climate change impact.

The seminar was organized by COAST foundation, An Organization for Socio-Economic Development [AOSED], Bangladesh Climate Journalist Forum (BCJF),  Climate Action Network, South Asia-Bangladesh [CANSA-BD], Centre for Participatory Research & Development [CPRD] Coastal Development Partnership [CDP], Centre for Sustainable Rural Livelihood [CSRL], Equity and Justice Working Group, Bangladesh [EquityBD]), LEDERS, LDC Watch and moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD. The seminar was chaired by Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed, Chairman- Dhaka School of Economics and the Chief Guest was Mr. Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Member of Parliament (MP) , Special Envoy to the Prime Minister for Climate Change. Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, MP was participated as special guest. Among others Mr. Ziaul Haque and Mr. Mirza Shawkat Ali, Directors, Department of Environment [DoE] Mr. Sharif Jamil, Water Keepers-BD, Md. Shamsuddoha of CPRD, Mr. Fazle Rabbi Sadeki Ahmed of PKSF, Ziaul Hoque Mukta of CSRL, M. Ahsanul Wahed of MJF, Mrs. Rabeya Begum, Chair-CANSA-BD, Mrs. Afsari Begum of Concern Worldwide, and many others spoke at the event. Aminul Hoque from EquityBD presented the key notes of the seminar.

Aminul Hoque emphasized the significance of CoP 28, noting its role in the first global stock take on Paris Agreement progress, highlighting failures in achieving targets. He criticized developed countries for their role in risking the 1.5-degree and finance goals, condemning the USA and allies for not reaching a common position on the L&D Fund. Hoque provided recommendations for the government negotiation team: 1) Big emitters should revise NDCs for a “Zero Emission” target by 2050, prioritizing 1.5-degree over “Net Zero.” 2) Advocate strongly for a stand-alone L&D fund in CoP 28. 3) Design a non-debt instrument for the New Climate finance architecture, prioritizing grants, highly concessional finance, and CBDR&RC for MVCs in the fight against climate change.

Mr. Saber Hossen Chowdhury underscores the deficiencies in the current UNFCCC process, noting its inability to facilitate vital decisions if opposed by a single country. He urges a concentrated effort to reform the process, pointing out that the prevailing conditions are leading to a deepening crisis and diminishing success. With the upcoming CoP holding significant importance, especially with the Global Stock Take (GST) focusing on the 1.5-degree target, he emphasizes the need for a targeted approach based on updated scientific understanding.

Barrister Shamim Haider paints a stark picture of global climate negotiations, describing it as a sinking ship with limited prospects for substantial outcomes. The challenge, as he sees it, lies in the ineffective presentation of issues at CoP, necessitating thorough preparation in the form of a vulnerability assessment and a climate finance model that can garner expected acceptance from the global community.

Ziaul Hoque Director-DoE advocates for country-driven climate action over legally binding options, emphasizing the reduction of GHG emissions. Mr. Fazle Rabbi Sadeki highlights the issue of climate funds for adaptation coming as loans, creating a debt-trap for LDCs. Mr. Sharif Jamil stresses the need to combat global north emitters while safeguarding national interests. Ziaul Hoque Mukta and others demand a new climate regime and parliamentary approval for the Paris Agreement.

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WTO Loses Legitimacy as Affected Communities, CSO Shut Out of Normal...

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Abu Dhabi 28 February 2024: Non-governmental representatives participating in the third day of the MC13 of WTO in Abu Dhabi condemned the disruption of...