A discussion on "Good governance in climate financing: Global and national perspective" organized by the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) ascertains that Bangladesh has not qualified for the $9.3-billion international green climate fund. The reason cited for this failure is the country's inability to develop a national implementation body so far.
Almost three years have passed since the creation of the fund in 2012 but the authorities could only complete 56 projects out of a total of 236 under the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) and the Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund (BCCRF). So far the BCCTF has released Tk 20.68 billion but the completion rate is only 23 per cent. In his paper, "Challenge of Good Governance in Climate Financing," Zakir Hossain, a senior programme officer of the TIB claims that by June 30, 2009, 85 projects were supposed to be completed but just 20 per cent works of those projects so far could be accomplished. Notably, 70-80 per cent of the fund allotted for the projects concerned has already been released.
This is revelation to most people following the development in the area of climate change. Earlier it was given to understand that governments across the globe did not live up to their commitments in contributing to the green climate fund. So Bangladesh had no option but to dig deep into its own resources in order to execute climate programmes. Now if the fund is made available from the government coffer, the rat smelled in project implementation makes it incumbent on the agencies concerned to look in to the allegations for taking stern punitive measures against all involved. How frustrating that the priority attached by the top leadership of the country to the climate issue has been so sabotaged by rogue and corrupt elements within the folds of the government! Â
Clearly, something somewhere has gone terribly wrong. When there was an overriding need for prioritising projects for implementation within a set timeframe, those responsible for execution of the programmes failed to grasp the importance of the matter. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pursued the issue with all seriousness. But people who at the implementation stage have frustrated her good initiatives must not be allowed to go unpunished. Significantly, non-government organisations are assigned to 63 projects involving only Tk 250 million. This is evidence enough that the responsibility of utilisation of the major portion of the fund lies under government supervision.
The TIB programme officer has cited two specific cases of irregularities in fund utilisation. In the first case, half of the Tk 20-million fund was made available for the ship breaking yard project but no work is still in sight. The second such case involves the construction of the cyclone resilient houses. Funded by BCCTF, the houses were built without walls and sanitation facilities. Later on, claims the TIB, the houses were completed with additional funds from the BCCTF.
As one of the countries considered most vulnerable to climate change, Bangladesh is a strong candidate for the green fund. But at a time when fund is hard to come by, this kind of indiscretion and irregularities on the part of those responsible for implementation of the projects will surely make the availability of financial support from rich nations scarcer. Not all large contributors but certainly a few important ones give the impression that they are ready to renege on their pledges on this or that pretexts. If they get an excuse like this, they will surely grab it by all means so that they can back out.
It will be a sad day for Bangladesh if it happens. The Bangladesh premier in her speeches at various international forums, including the United Nations' General Assembly, made it amply clear that the country was ready to lead the campaign for a greener planet and persuading the world leaders to share their responsibility in building up a substantial fund to help poor and vulnerable nations tide over the crisis arising out of global warming. That image will receive a serious blow now that her own administration has let her down.
Sure enough, project implementation has been delayed unduly on account of malpractices by people involved. The corrupt elements should now be identified and the fund misused should be recovered from them. This is possible if the administration is serious about the business. Implementation of the projects has been delayed but there is still time to make amend for the lost time. And this has to be done in the interests of the nation for at stake is the future of the nation.
Countries like Bangladesh cannot fight adversities like climate change alone. Also such countries have a genuine claim for compensation by rich countries which are the worst polluters of the environment. And global warming is a consequence of pollution beyond an acceptable limit. But because both rich and poor countries share the same planet, the worst polluters have an obligation to help those who suffer the most as a consequence of their action. Now, this should not be a bargaining issue. But then receiving countries too need to act responsibly in order to make the most of the fund. On that count there should be no compromise and those found guilty should be meted out punishment they deserve. Transparency in utilisation of the climate fund will save the day for all.      Â
nilratanhalder2000@yahoo.com
Qualifying for climate fund
Nilratan Halder | Published: November 28, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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