Rights groups for CVF to emergeas independent negotiation group

Rights groups have urged the climate vulnerable countries to emerge as independent negotiation group in United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), freeing themselves from the interest of G-77 plus China, reports UNB. An alliance of five rights groups made the call at a press conference at National Press Club Friday on the eve of the third meeting of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF). UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will attend the conference to be held in Dhaka on November 13-14 (Sunday-Monday). The alliance comprises Bangladesh Indigenous People Network on Climate Change and Biodiversity (BIPNet), Climate Change Development Forum (CCDF), Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL), Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD), and Network on Climate Change Bangladesh (NCCB). Dr Ahsan Uddin of CSRL read out a written statement at the press conference while Ziaul Hoque Mukta of CSRL, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of EquityBD, Mizanur Rahman Bijoy of NCCB, and Sudipta Chakma of BIPNet also spoke. Dr Ahsan Uddin said that as G-77 plus China grouping in UNFCCC has not succeeded to reflect the demands of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, the CVF should emerge as independent negotiation group in the UNFCCC to reflect the demands of the 52 climate vulnerable countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. He said the CVF must raise voice to bring the high-emitter developing countries like Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa under legal binding for mitigation. The climate vulnerable countries, he added, must raise their voice to keep the world temperature within 1.5 degrees Celsius, and limit greenhouse gas emission to 350 ppm (parts per million), while developed countries is demanding to keep temperature at 2 degrees Celsius. Ahsan Uddin said the CVF should press for a new UN protocol for climate induced migrants to facilitate their resettlement, rehabilitation and reintegration. He also suggested the CVF to demand all climate finance from the developed countries, which are mainly responsible for global warming and climate change. The group declared a series of campaigns both in Dhaka and countrywide. There will be a postcard-based campaign and a youth rally in Dhaka on Saturday (Nov 12), and also a human chain in Dhaka and all the coastal districts on Sunday (Nov 13) to draw attention of the CVF and the UN Secretary General.