Nat\\\'l budget has no allocation for climate change progs: Rights groups

Seven rights organisations said on Thursday that they are worried about the absence of any allocation for climate change programmes in the national budget for 2014-2015 fiscal year. This approach will give a wrong signal to the international community about the country's climate change commitment, they said at a press conference at National Press Club. The groups are: Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan (BAPA), Bangladesh Indigenous People's Network on Climate Change and Bio-Diversity (BIPNetCCBD), Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL), Climate Change Development Forum (CCDF), Coastal Development Partnership (CDP), Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) and Somaj and Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD). EquityBD's chief Moderator Rezaul Karim Chowdhury moderated the press conference, which was addressed by Dr Abdul Matin of BAPA, Pychimong Marma of BIPNetCCBD, Sobnom Hafiz of Somaj, Mostafa Kamal Akanda from EquityBD. Sayd Aminul Haque of EquityBD presented the keynote paper at the press conference. Aminul Haque said international community had appreciated Bangladesh Climate Change Strategic Action Plan (BCCSAP) 2009 as a good step in climate change adaptation and financing. The plan was supported by Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) created by the country's own fund. He said the finance minister remained silent about any climate change allocation in the annual budget now being debated in the parliament. Dr Abdul Matin of BAPA said the civil society organisations are not opposed to climate fund even though they alleged corruption in it. He called for keeping the trust free from corruption. Pychimong Marma of BIPNetCCBD said Chittagong Hill Tracts region is witnessing worsening climate change impacts. But there is no government move visible in the region to check it. He also expresses concern on concept of carbon trading. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury demanded a pro-active roadmap from the government and Environment Ministry on how it would act in the global GCF (Green Climate Fund), which has just started business. The government of Bangladesh also must explain its preparation for climate conferences in Lima in 2014 and in Paris in 2015. He said the civil society will cooperate with the government in international negotiations, according to UNB.