Bangladesh on the frontline against Climate Change
Posted by AlexT - 11/11/09 at 04:11 pmH.E. Dr Msayeedur Khan, Bangladesh High Commissioner, talks about the impact of global warming on his country
Transcript
We have recently been affected by two successive cyclones, Cyclone ‘Sidr’ and Cyclone ‘Aila’. And we have had many other natural calamities like this in the past, because of this global warming-up, due to climate change. Bangladesh is going to be the worst sufferer in the world, so we are very much concerned about this problem, and we believe this is not only our problem, this is a global problem. So, it needs to be solved globally.
This situation has been created by the carbon emissions and other things, so, if you analyse critically, Bangladesh contributed very little to it, maybe nothing, compared to the industrialised countries. So, I feel strongly that it is a moral responsibility of the world community to handle this problem, to tackle this problem, to solve it. That is why the campaign about climate change and it’s consequences, we are very much engaged in it, Bangladesh is doing its best for the adaptation to this situation, and in future how we can tackle this situation, and we are very much concerned about it.
But we alone cannot solve this problem, so I appreciate the British government’s role in this context; they are already helping us through DFID. The British government also advocates for the developed countries, particularly Bangladesh, so we are grateful to them, and it’s better for the British government to play a more effective role in the coming Copenhagen conference. I hope the world community will come to a consensus, to save the millions of unfortunate people who will be homeless if nothing is done at this moment.
Category : Climate Change & Environment, The Commonwealth's Relevance
Tags: Bangladesh
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November 14th, 2009 at 8:33 am
No doubt Bangladesh will be (already has been in some parts)one of the worst affected countries due to the global climate change.
The issue raised here, in my view, should not be overlooked as this is a global problem and therefore the matter should be solved globally.
On the other hand, The Govt of bangladesh also should (must as the time demands now)take tough action against those who are liable for illegal logging, land grabbing etc.
November 14th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Absolutely correct Mong. Population displacement is going to put a lot of pressure on the infrastructure of Bangladesh and her neighbours. The Commonwealth should help them plan ahead so people don’t get left behind.
November 26th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
It is quite relevant to consider this humanitarian catastrophe caused by the Climate Change and we are deeply worried by the world’s inactive position when we are observing this possible danger.Action needs to be taken and I urge young people across the world to unite and do something.It is necessary to be on the forefront of Advocacy and engaging our governments to start acting.Hunger and conflicts will always follow unless we ACT.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:27 am
Regardless of who are primarily responsible for global warming and who have little to contribute to global warming, Bangladesh needs to come up with a robust and pragmatic plan for surviving the potential catastrophe.
With a view to implementing that plan, Bangladesh should push the global community for the appropriate assistance. It would be irresponsible of Bangladesh to just wait on the global community to reach out and help Bangladesh deal with its climate change crises.
Further more, Bangladesh needs to get over the rhetoric bit of this problem. Instead of saying the government is doing everything they can, my expectation is that the government should publish its specific plan on how it wishes to address the crises from climate change, i.e., is the country planning on buying lands elsewhere in the region; is the country planning on securing a memorandum of understanding with other countries for assistance with evacuation etc. These may appear to be very tactical emergency response, they’re however equally important as strategic plans to fight climate change.
The hypocracy must stop also. Many of the government vehilces in Bangladesh including police vehicles are significant contributors to carbon emission. While the government expects financial compensation for impacts of climate change, they should reform their very own resources and logistics first.
August 27th, 2010 at 5:47 am
Yes it needs to be solved globally, as because not only for this reason that Bangladesh is a sufferer in recent future may be this problem arises to all of the countries may be at that time their is noy ray of hope to get evacuate from this global warming issue.