‘Marginal farmers, fishers remain ignored in UN's COP’

Although marginal farmers and fishers remain among the most vulnerable to climate-induced disasters, their issues hardly get importance in the UN's annual Conference of the Parties (COP).

The observation came at a roundtable discussion on "COP-30: Expectations and Challenges for Small-Scale Farmers and Fishers", organised by COAST Foundation in the capital on Tuesday.

Speaking at the event, Md Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive of the Center for Participatory Research and Development - CPRD, said the concerns of small farmers and fishers have long been ignored at COP negotiations, even though they are on the frontline of climate change impacts.

"There is hardly any direct support for improving their lives," he said.

He also laid emphasis on ensuring transparency and accountability in expenditure of funds that comes in the name of climate finance.

He mentioned that the government has developed NDC and NAP, focusing on the geographical areas on top of local vulnerable communities.

He also added climate justice will not be ensured especially for the vulnerable communities without restoring governance at local levels.

Disaster management expert and writer Gawher Nayeem Wahra argued that mismanagement of rivers, not just climate change, was driving the water crisis.

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