Rights activists urge better preparation for climate talks

Rights groups on Thursday urged the government to get better prepared for the next round of facilitative dialogue due in January 2018 under the initiative of the climate change conference of parties (CoP 24) to make the case stronger for most vulnerable countries (MVCs), reports UNB.

They also called for presenting strong evidence-base context in receiving of global support for the MVCs.

They raised the demand at a press conference titled "CoP 23 Outcome: Government Must be Prepared with strong evidence-based context for Next Facilitative Dialogue 2018 under CoP 24" held at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the city organised by eight rights organisations, including BCAS (Bangladesh Centre for Advance Study), Forum on Environmental Journalist, Bangladesh-FEJB, EquityBD and Climate Journalist Forum.

Moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD, the press conference was addressed, among others by Dr Atiq Rahaman of BCAS, Quamrul Islam Chowdhury of FEJB and Md Motahar Hossen of Bangladesh Climate Change Journalist Forum (BCJF). Briefing note on CoP 23 outcome was presented by Aminul Hoque.

In his speech, Dr Atiq Rahaman said good progress has been made in CoP 23 on agriculture and gender action but little progress was achieved in global issues like temperature goal.

This is also a good sign that Bangladesh has been re-elected in four working groups at the CoP. Next facilitative dialogue is a chance for Bangladesh to get effective results and further need to work intensively, he said.

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said that Bangladesh has been participating in CoP comparatively taking less preparation. This is why, it has been very difficult to assess country's position and also difficult for civil society organisations (CSOs) to play appropriate pro-government role in CoP in the last couple of years.

He also said coordination gap among the government's delegation and Bangladeshi CSOs, who participate in the CoP, also now gets wider. "So we urge the government to look into this issue giving due importance for next CoP-24," he added.