PM Should Ask for Climate Forced Migrants’ Right in Ban Ki-Moon Climate Summit

Sep 11, 2014

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Dhaka, 11th September 2014: Today five rights based civil society climate networks in Bangladesh urge the Prime Minister (PM) of Bangladesh to demand climate forced migrants’ rights and appropriate compensation under the cover of loss & damage discourse in upcoming Climate Change Summit called by UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon to be held on 23rd September in New York. They have also expressed concern on the current role of Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoE&F) and urged to be more pro active for participation of civil society in preparing PM speech in this regard.
The Press conference is jointly organized by BAPA (Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan), BIPnetCCBD (Bangldesh Indigenous Peoples Network for Climate Change and Bio-Diversity), CCDF (Climate Change Development Forum), CLEAN (Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network), CSRL (Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood) and EquityBD (Equity and Justice Working Group, Bangladesh).
Mr. Syed Aminul Haque, Secretariat Coordinator of EquityBD reads out the position paper in the press conference moderated by Mr. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, the chief moderator of EquityBD. Mustafa Kamal Akanda of EquityBD gives the welcome address in the press conference. The invited speakers are Dr. Abdul Matin, the General Secretary of BAPA , Aminur Rasul Babul of Unnayan Dhara Trust and Hasan Mehedi of Humanity Watch/ CLEAN.
On behalf of the group, Aminul Haque urged five point demands should be addressed by our Prime Minister in the upcoming summit as follows; (1) Developed countries must admit historical responsibility and practically commit to reduce the GHG emissions; (2) Any agreement in respect of climate change must be a legally binding agreement especially for Rich countries in reducing GHG emissions; (3) UN must consider to prepare a separate protocol for climate forced migrants/ refugees so that developed countries must take responsibilities of them; (4) Allocate 50% of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for adaptation and ensure easy access for the LDCs in it; and (5) Additional adaptation fund, there must be compensation to the countries within the discourse and mechanism related to loss and damage.
Dr. Abdul Matin of BAPA has expressed worries on the current role of MoE&F as it is less interested in participation of different stakeholders, that enriched Bangladesh’s position and leadership in past international level climate negotiations and global climate discourse. He also emphasized to consider saving natural resource while increasing national energy and power.
Aminur Rasul of Unnayan Dhara Trust said, the role of Bangladesh PM was always outspoken and pro people in such international forums and was also applauded by international communities. He also urged that PM should play the same role and must ask for compensation, climate displacement rights and fast track climate financing to the countries like Bangladesh.
Hasan Mehedi of CLEAN said in his speech, in 1971 about 9 million people were displaced and took shelter in India and they immediately asked for international aid and cooperation to face the pressure. Could we think about how Bangladesh will be able to rehabilitate about 30 million climates forced displaced people from the coastal area in future?
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, the chief moderator of EquityBD said that, everyday displaced people from the coast and other areas are coming in large number to the cities and the capital already have more than 58 thousand people living in every sqkm. He said Bangladesh alone hardly able to manage the climate problem and it is also unfair as the problem is created by developed countries.