Civic bodies stress allocating more for climate fund

Civil society organisations and climate networks have called upon the government to allocate more for climate funding for the fiscal year (FY) 2019-20.

They made the call for ensuring climate infrastructure development to protect and save millions of climate vulnerable people in the coastal areas of the country.

They were addressing a seminar on "Ensure Priories and Adequate Budget Allocation Protecting Coastal Communities" in the city on Sunday, organised by COAST Trust.

The event was chaired by Zafar Alam MP, member, parliamentary standing committee on the ministry of environment, forest and climate change.

The event was moderated by Mr Mustafa Kamal Akanda of COAST Trust and Syed Aminul Hoque of the same organisation presented the keynote paper.

The experts also recommended strengthening the BCCTF (Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund) operations through revising the policies along with providing sufficient money.

They also criticised the government for ignoring climate finance requirement in the proposed national budget for the FY 2019-20.

Presenting the keynote paper, Syed Aminul Hoque said the government did not allocate sufficient money as per requirement in view of climate vulnerability.

He criticised the proposed budget allocation BDT 23,785 crore (237.85 billion), 4.5 per cent of the total budget, which is very poor.

He placed five specific demands including-revision of the proposed climate budget in view of the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2009 (BCCSAP) projection and increasing allocation accordingly at least 02 per cent of GDP and special allocation for the coastal districts based on their vulnerability and adaptation priority.

Besides, highest allocation should be given for climate protection infrastructures like embankment and shelter, BCCTF operation should be strengthened giving sufficient money with revision of policies, and engaging local people and MPs to monitor budget implementation progress.

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