Dhaka to raise voice in Durban meet to release climate fund soon

FE Report State minister for environment and forests Hasan Mahmud Saturday said Bangladesh would raise its voice for releasing the fund for adaptation by 2012 at the COP 17 scheduled to be held in Durban from November 28. He also criticised the slow disbursement, saying "Only $ 2.4 billion of the total promised $ 30 billion had been disbursed so far." "Of the disbursed money some amount was disbursed in 2008 but now they are claiming it was disbursed under the fast start fund," he added. He also said the country would emphasise ensuring transparency and stopping of hide and seek game by the developed world regarding disbursement of the fast start fund in the ensuing Durban conference. Mr Hasan told this to newsmen on the sideline of a national level roundtable discussion on 'Climate Change Negotiation Process Towards COP 17 in Durban' organised by Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP) in association of Concern Worldwide, Bangladesh at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city. The programme was chaired by Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation chairman Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad. The discussion was also addressed, among others, by lawmaker Zunayed Ahmed Palak, climate change unit of environment and forests ministry co-ordinator Didarul Ahsan, Concern Worldwide, India country director Dipankar Dutta, Concern Worldwide Bangladesh country, director AKM Musa. Mr Hasan told the reporters that at Copenhagen, (in COP 15, 2009) wealthy nations promised the least developing countries $ 30 billion in 'fast start' assistance from 2010 to 2012 to help them adapt to the impact of climate change and try to minimize their own greenhouse gas emission. 'But some hide and seek game were played the developed countries while disbursing money' Hasan said. Hasan said that Bangladesh would demand disbursement of money of the fast start fund on the basis of necessity, 'the country would decide where and how they would need the money,' he added. Deputy secretary of environment and forests SM Munjurul Hannan Khan in his keynote paper said Bangladesh would raise the issue of ending the debate of setting peaking year of greenhouse gas emission by 2015 and developed countries should implement their promise to reduce carbon emission. He also said Bangladesh would also raise the issue of expanding the Kyoto Protocol as the current KP only cover 27 per cent of the total gas emissions. 'We expect the National Adaptation Programmes of Action should not only remain in papers but would come into effect and funds should be released for the adaptation programmes' Munjurul said. He feared the release of total $ 30 billion for adaptation may take until 2030 if this speed continues. Discussants at the programme expected that in Durban conference stockholders should launch a clear roadmap with reasonable timeframe towards reaching a legally bound agreement. Salimul Huq, a climate expert said Bangladesh needs to negotiate in favour of all the most vulnerable countries if it wants to take the lead of the most vulnerable group and avoid saying 'we are the most vulnerable country,' in the COP17 meet. AKM Musa said area-based detailed planning was needed for appropriate utilization of resources for climate adaptation. Lawmaker Palak said northern part of the country should be given importance by the policymakers alongside the southern part as the northern part is under the process of desertation due to climate change. He also urged all negotiators to raise the issue of bio-fuel production by developed countries from crops in the COP 17 which creates food crisis for the poor nations.