TI asks Dhaka to check graft in climate fund use

Global graft watchdog Transparency International has asked Bangladesh Saturday to check graft in the management of forests and climate change fund, issuing warning that corruption can weaken the country's main defence against increasing number of deadly cyclones, tidal surges and floods. In a report released in Dhaka, the Berlin-based watchdog said Bangladesh is on the climate change front line, as the country is at most risk to tropical cyclones and sixth most vulnerable to flooding. It, however, warned that the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest and the country's most essential bio-shield against cyclones, is being "weakened by illegal logging and exacerbated by corruption". "Corruption has been a barrier to good management of forests for decades. If the Sundarbans is lost, Bangladesh will be even more vulnerable to climate disasters," TI chairman Huguette Labelle said. "Corruption not only exacts costs, but kills," Labelle said as she launched a TI report on Global Corruption Report: Climate Change in the Bangladeshi capital. She also presented a key note paper on Global Climate Change: Governance and Corruption risks and Options at Brac Centre. State minister for environment Hasan Mahmud, head of parliamentary standing committee on environment Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Anti-corruption corruption chief Ghulam Rahman also spoke on the occasion. Ms Labelle warned that graft has emerged as a key threat to climate change mitigation fund being set up by the world's richest nations to help the most vulnerable countries. "As the governments prepare to spend up to US$100 billion annually by 2010 to limit climate change and prepare for its impact, we warn of the corruption risks of climate finance," she said. The report highlights that some governments have already claimed credits for fictitious forest plantation projects. Its case studies from Austria, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Columbia, Kenya, the Philippines, Spain and the United States illustrate the global dimension of the climate change challenges facing the planet. Labelle said climate change is the greatest challenge the planet faces today and everything possible must be done to reduce its impact. "We've to work to ensure that corruption doesn't threaten efforts to combat climate change." The global graft watchdog body chief said the climate fund must be monitored by oversight bodies staffed by independent professionals. "The urgent need to respond to climate changes needs to be enhanced by transparency and accountability. Oversight must be built into all climate-related initiatives from the start." She added by 2015, about 375 million people will be affected by climate-related disasters every year. "Disasters expose the human cost of corruption most cruelly." Chairman of Pallai Karma Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Executive Director of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) Dr A Atiq Rahman and chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (BELA) Syeda Rizwana Hasan also discussed the issue. State minister for environment Hasan Mahmud said Bangladesh is committed to check graft in climate change fund and would seek Transparency International's help in this regard. But he rued that despite facing some of the worst disasters due to climate change in recent decades, Dhaka has yet to receive substantial amount of fund to combat the effects of global warming. He said the government had included civil society members, professionals and experts and maintains transparency in addressing the climate change issues. Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP, said the TI should publish the amount of climate change funds committed by the developed countries and how much of it has gone to the most vulnerable nations. He said the Transparency International and its Bangladesh chapter should look into how judiciously and prudently the climate change fund is being spent. He said Bangladesh can be role model of climate governance. ACC chairman Ghulam Rahman said the commission has been planning to form integrity units at all schools, colleges and madrassas involving green minds to launch social movement against corruption. Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad underscored the need for integrated approach with adequate funds and modern technology to reduce the green house effects. BELA chief Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the government and the donors must ensure that the climate fund reach the most affected people. TIB executive director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said Bangladesh is at the frontline in the battle to combat climate change. The global corruption report launched in Bangladesh for the first time combines analysis from more than 50 leading climate change experts from 20 countries tackling a wide range of issues including the politics of climate change, role of private sector, the integrity of carbon markets and forestry governance. The US$ 28 billion of climate financing is expected to flow annually to countries with large tropical forests to discourage deforestation and preserve this form of natural carbon storage. (With contribution from UNB)