The decision Sunday by nations around the world to establish a fund to help poor countries hit hard by a warming planet was one of the most significant since U.N. climate talks began 30 years ago. It was an unequivocal confirmation that poor countries, with limited resources, are being most impacted by extreme weather events like floods, heat waves and storms and, at least at some level, industrialized nations that have done the most to contribute to climate change have a responsibility to help. While government leaders, environmentalists and activists celebrated plans for such a fund, there are many outstanding questions, ranging from how it will work to long-term repercussions. Here is a look at the development of the idea of “loss and damage,” the term it’s given in climate negotiations, and what we know about the fund. Read more: UN climate deal: Calamity cash, but no new emissions cuts HISTORY In the early 1990s, the Alliance of Small Island States, a group of low-lying coastal and small island countries, began calling for the establishment of a loss and damage fund as the United Nations was creating a framework to deal with climate change on an international level. Since then, the idea has always been a part of annual U.N. climate summits. However, it was often talked about on the margins of negotiations, something developing nations and activists would push for while many rich nations used their weight to squash the idea. For the first time, at this year’s COP27 it was included in the agenda and became the centerpiece of discussions. WHO WILL FUND IT? The fund will initially draw on contributions from developed countries and other private and public sources, such as international financial institutions, with an option for other major economies to join down the line. The final text points to “identifying and expanding sources of funding,” something the EU, the U.S. and others had pushed for during negotiations, suggesting that nations that are both high-polluting and considered developing under the criteria, should also pay into the fund. During the talks, China said money for the new fund should come from developed countries, not them. But there’s precedence for China to voluntarily pay into climate funds, if the U.S. does too. When the Obama administration pledged $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund in 2014, China also paid $3.1 billion for the fund. More details of who pays will be decided by a committee that plans to get the fund going within a year. Read more: UN climate talks drag into extra time with scant progress WHO WILL GET MONEY? The deal says the fund will assist “developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change," though there will be room for middle-income countries that are severely affected by climate disasters to also get paid. Pakistan, which was devastated by flooding that put a third of the country underwater, or Cuba, recently battered by Hurricane Ian, could be eligible. How the loss and damage fund will fit in with "other institutions, agencies that are out there doing humanitarian work, helping people rebuild, dealing with migration and refugee crises, dealing with food security, water security” will need to be worked out, said David Waskow, the World Resources Institute international climate director. Those details will also be hammered out by the committee in the coming year. REBUILDING TRUST Beyond just financial help, setting up the fund is seen as a huge step forward, but how it's ultimately viewed will depend in part on how fast it can be set up. In the closing session Sunday, Antigua's Lia Nicholson said the transitional committee should be set up immediately and given clear mandates. “This loss and damage fund must become the lifeboat that we need it to be,” she said. There is a credibility gap because of past broken promises. In 2009, rich nations agreed to provide $100 billion a year to help developing countries transition to green energy systems and adapt to climate change. However, to date, that initiative has never been fully funded. Read more: Time running out for climate negotiators over loss and damage REPERCUSSIONS One of the main reasons that rich nations long opposed such a loss and damage fund was the fear that it would open then up to long-term liability. Despite passage, that concern is very much still at play, as evidence by how negotiators made sure the language of the fund didn’t say “liability” and that contributions were voluntary. Despite those caveats, the establishment of such a fund could have repercussions, both legal and symbolic, in climate circles and beyond. For example, several Pacific Island nations have been pushing for the International Court of Justice to consider climate change. They argue that international laws must be strengthened to protect their rights in the case that their lands are engulfed by rising seas. The establishment of a loss and damage fund could bolster those arguments.
Global climate talks approached crunch time on Friday, the final scheduled day of negotiations that are expected to go past their deadline as chances of a deal still looked unclear. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres flew to Sharm El-Sheikh on Friday after attending the G-20 meeting. Addressing the ministers engaged in the final negotiations, the UN chief said that the difference between North and South is very clear. This division has become whetted between developed and rapidly developing countries. But now it's time to stop the blame game, the UN chief added. He called on all countries to act on three urgent issues -- loss and damage to restore lost hope and to reach an acceptable agreement with developed countries on financing. In this context, he said, the time to talk about loss and damage is over. Now it's time to work. "We are witnessing the horror of loss and damage all over the world. There is no way to deny it. So a decision on this issue must be taken here at the last meeting." Injustice cannot continue to countries that are emitting less carbon and struggling to survive, he said. Now is the time to show compassion to them. In climate negotiations, loss and damage refers to the idea that rich nations, which have historically done the most to contribute to climate change, should compensate the developing countries most impacted. Read more: COP27: Bangladesh wants developed countries to deliver on $100 billion promise Limiting global warming to 1.5C is not just a goal, it is the key to saving the people of the world. Therefore, the 27th Climate Conference decision must confirm the commitment in this matter as proof of political will. We want the Climate Solidarity Act. This allows developed countries to take the lead in reducing carbon emissions. International financial institutions must accelerate the financing of renewable energy. This is essential to achieve the 1.5-degree target. The UN Secretary-General also said that countries need to be more proactive in the question of financing. Developing countries must provide $100 billion annually and an acceptable roadmap is needed to scale up adaptation financing. Saber Hossain Chowdhury Mp, a member of the Bangladesh delegation and president of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Forestry and Climate Change, told UNB that although progress has been made on many issues, progress is still lagging behind on complex issues such as reducing carbon emissions, loss and damage and finance. He said the most surprising thing is that the results of the speeches given by high-level world leaders on November 7 and 8 are not beingreflected even in the final meeting at the ministerial level. He also said that the United Nations and the host country are seeking reflection of that moral goodwill in the last meeting of the ministerial level to bring out effective and fruitful decisions from the conference. In this regard, the president of the 27th climate conference, the foreign minister of Egypt is talking separately with the ministers of developed and developing countries. They are discussing to reach an agreement on complex issues. But not a single positive reflection of this discussion can be seen in the ministerial level meeting. The discussion on the mitigation work program to reduce carbon emissions to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030 has not reached the desired level. The adaptation issue is caught in the process of nowhere. No consensus has been reached so far on financing. The ministers are reluctant to take a political decision on loss and damage, he added. He said that the issue of assistance to the countries affected by climate change has been put on the agenda of this climate conference by the host country Egypt for the first time. It came to the agenda for the first time mainly due to the pressure of African countries. Now the entire LDC countries are speaking on this issue. But developed countries are opposing it, he added. Read more: “We had enough of your promises and we need these words to be put into action now”
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin has urged developed countries to at least double their collective provision of adaptation finance by 2025, as agreed upon during COP26 in Glasgow, and to provide support for the implementation of National Adaptation Plan (NAP). The environment minister made the call while speaking at the two-day high-level segment of COP27 conference in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh on Tuesday. “The countries that are most responsible for greenhouse gas emission should share responsibility for protecting the people vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. We want to see the developed countries keep their commitments, providing 100 billion US dollars each year – major portion of which should come from public funds dedicated to climate change adaptation,” he said. Read: COP27: FM calls for collective action to mainstream climate-induced migration in negotiations He also said, “At COP27, it’s essential that we make progress in addressing the gap that exists between nationally determined contributions and emission reductions required by science to keep 1.5-degree Celsius target alive, including finalising the mitigation work programme as necessary to reduce global carbon emission by 45% by 2030.” “Bangladesh is an innocent victim of climate change as it contributes less than 0.48% of global emissions,” he added. Bangladesh has always been highly susceptible to climate change and climate-induced disasters due to its unique geographical setting, said the minister. “Studies show that about 12-17% of the country, an area larger than many small island countries, will be submerged due to sea level rise by this century.” On October 31, 2022, Bangladesh submitted its National Adaptation Plan to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), he said, adding: “In our NAP, we have identified 113 actions for 8 vulnerable sectors. USD 230 billion will be required to implement the actions over the next 27 years (2023-2050). We need dedicated, additional financial resources for effective implementation of adaptation actions identified in the National Adaptation Plan.” Read: COP27: Bangladesh among first recipients of Global Shield financial support The country has established a national climate finance mechanism, “Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund” from its own resources and allocated USD 490 million that supports more than 850 projects for making the country climate resilient, he said. “Apart from this, the climate-relevant allocation in our Annual Development Plan has increased by two and a half times over the last eight years – from USD 1.4 billion to more than USD 3.1 billion – for climate adaptation and resilience-building through construction of embankments, cyclone shelters, development of stress tolerant crop varieties and coastal afforestation and reforestation,” the environment minister said.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin has said that Bangladesh will urge the developed countries for $100 billion that they had promised to provide to the countries affected by climate change at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of The Parties, popularly called COP27. In an interview with UNB, the minister also said that Bangladesh expects the world leaders to implement Glasgow-Sharm El-Sheikh Work Program on The Global Goal on Adaptation at this year’s climate conference. COP27 is taking place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, from 6-18 November 2022 where Bangladesh is playing a crucial role as one of the top actors on behalf of the vulnerable countries that are desperate to get funds to tackle the impacts of climate change. “To implement the National Adaptation Plan prepared by the Bangladesh government, we need $230 billion till 2030. We hope that international organisations like the United Nations will help us execute the plan effectively,” Shahab said.
Fish, rice, mangrove trees and the lush delta wetlands where the massive Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal. It’s not luxury. But for the farmers and fishermen who live by the world’s largest mangrove forest, it’s more than enough. Now, the environment is at risk. A power plant will start burning coal near the Sundarbans this year as part of Bangladesh’s plan to meet its energy needs and improve living standards, officials say. Home to 168 million people, Bangladesh is among the most densely populated countries in the world. Once the power plant begins functioning at its full capacity, it will generate 1,320 megawatts of power, as much as Bangladesh’s largest coal power plant generates now. The developing world needs its people to live better. But fossil fuel-powered economic growth can create environmental problems and make lives worse. Read more: Power flow set up from Payra plant to Rampal sub-station
Producers and exporters in Khulna are worried about falling production of shrimps, affecting exports from the region, for hurdles mainly stemmed from climate-induced changes in temperature. In FY2021-22, only 33,271 tonnes of shrimp were exported from Khulna, a sharp fall from 42,489 tonnes in FY2011-12. Industry operators say water bodies are losing their navigability, salinity level is fluctuating because of weaker force of natural high tides caused by moon’s gravitational pull, affecting the shrimp cultivation in the region. Read: Shrimp farmers in Bagerhat stare at starvation Humayun Kabir, Vice President of Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters’ Association (BFFEA), told UNB that it seemed good days are gone for the shrimp industry. He said shrimp farming in Bangladesh began in the 1960s, and by the 1980s it grew up to an industry as commercial shrimp production led to the export of this fish species. “But it seems like the heyday of the shrimp business is coming to an end. Production is getting lowered, while demand and prices are also falling. All in all, the situation is really dire for those associated with the shrimp industry,” he said. Humayun also pointed out some reasons behind the decline in shrimp production including a shortage of shrimp minnows in the market. “The few minnows that farmers can manage die due to high temperature of water. Minnows are very sensitive. They can’t survive without proper water, food and environment,” he said. “Besides there are regular outbreaks of various diseases. That’s why the mortality of shrimps has increased manifold,” he added. Read: Chandpur: Coast Guard seizes 1MT shrimps inflated with jelly Golam Kibria Ripon, General Secretary of Khulna Division (Shrimp) Fry Trading Association, also said that salinity in the rivers in Khulna has become a major headache. “Usually the water in the rivers of Khulna region becomes saline in January. Last year, salinity of the rivers was delayed to February. Lack of saline water during the harvesting period is affecting shrimp farming badly,” he said. “Although the rate of salinity used to be 16-18 ppt in May-June period, it has come down to 8-10 ppt nowadays.” He said previously 60 to 70 percent of minnows survived after releasing them in hatcheries, but now protecting even 15-20 percent minnows has become a big challenge. Ripon said that dredging of the rivers is a must to keep them navigable. “As the water bodies are drying up due to climate change, finding water for shrimp farming is getting tough. Various species of shrimp minnows used to enter the enclosures during tidal surges in the past, which isn’t the case anymore,” he said. He said the quality of soil beneath the rivers may have degraded too. “All of these issues are making it hard for us to continue shrimp production,” Ripon added. Joydeb Kumar, Fisheries Officer of Khulna District, highlighted various measures that the government has taken to protect shrimp farming. Read:Vannamei Shrimp pilot project shows commercial potential “We’ve advised the farmers to increase the depth of their enclosures to keep water temperature normal. We’re also conducting drives to prevent the injection of harmful substances into the shrimps. Besides, we’re also conducting awareness-raising campaigns with cooperation from the shrimp farmers and manufacturers,” Joydeb said. Dr Mostafa Sarwar, a noted climate expert and Head of Urban and Regional Planning department of Khulna University of Science and Technology (KUET), provided a scientific explanation behind the death of shrimp minnows. “There is a difference between mature shrimps and their minnows regarding heat enduring capacity. Minnows can’t grow naturally in high water temperatures. Farmers release minnows to their enclosures in January-February when water temperature remains around 25 degrees Celsius. In March, water temperature rises to 27 degrees Celsius, which kills a large portion of the minnows,” Mostafa said. Mostafa added that rising water temperature is also responsible for viral infections. “The life cycle of viruses depends on temperature. Viruses present in the air are making hot water their new home, thus infecting minnows and killing them in droves”, Mostafa said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday demanded immediate end to the Russia-Ukraine war and lifting sanctions for the sake of lives and livelihoods of people worldwide. “We want the end of Russia-Ukraine war. Due to sanctions, and counter-sanctions, not a single country, rather the entire mankind including women and children is punished,” she said. The Prime Minister made the call while delivering her statement at the 77th session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Also read: Hasina breaks down in tears while talking about everyday ordeals of Rohingyas Like previous years, she delivered her statement in Bangla. The theme of this year's general debate is “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges”. She mentioned that the impact of Russia-Ukraine war does not remain confined to one country, rather puts the lives and livelihoods of the people of all nations in greater risk, and infringes their human rights. People are deprived of food, shelter, healthcare and education. She said Children suffer the most in particular and their future sinks into darkness. “My urge to the conscience of the world community- stop the arms race, war and sanctions. Ensure food and security of the children. Establish peace,” she said. Read Homelessness is a curse that impacts people everywhere: PM “We share one planet, and we owe it to our future generations to leave it in a better shape,” she said. “Dialogue is the best way to resolve crises and disputes,” she added. In this context, she thanked the UN Secretary General for setting up the Global Crisis Response Group. “As a champion of this group, I am working with other world leaders to determine a global solution commensurate with the gravity and depth of the current situation,” said the Bangladesh premier. Read Dhaka-Washington: A thaw in the offing? “This (war) has brought economies like ours under tremendous pressure. Inflation has gone up. We (Bangladesh) are taking various initiatives to overcome this situation,” she noted. Rohingya crisis may affect regional stability and beyond Talking about the forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar, Sheikh Hasina said, Last month Bangladesh witnessed five years of the 2017 mass exodus of Rohingyas to Bangladesh from their home country. “Not a single Rohingya was repatriated to their ancestral home Myanmar, despite our bilateral engagements with them, discussions with partners in trilateral format and engagements with the UN and other partners to assist Myanmar to create necessary conditions for safe and dignified repatriation,” she complained. Read UNGA lauds Bangladesh’s leadership in promoting culture of peace In this connection, she said the ongoing political turmoil and armed conflicts in the country has made possibilities of Rohingya repatriation more difficult. “I hope the United Nations will play an effective role in this regard,” the PM added. Talking about the prolonged presence of Rohingyas in Bangladesh, she said, it has caused serious ramifications on the economy, environment, security, and socio-political stability in Bangladesh. “Uncertainty over repatriation has led to widespread frustration. Cross-border organized crimes including human and drug trafficking are on the rise,” she said, adding that this situation can potentially fuel radicalization. Read Citing abstention at UNGA vote on Ukraine, Lithuania withdraws vaccine donation to Dhaka “If the problem persists, it may affect security and stability of the entire region, and beyond,” she cautioned. Promote inclusive climate action Regarding the impact of climate change she said it is one of the biggest threats for humankind. “In the past, we have seen a vicious cycle of promises being made and broken. We must now change this course,” she said. In Bangladesh, she mentioned that the government has led to many transformative measures to tackle perilous impacts of climate change consistent with implementing the Paris Agreement and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Read Fear grips border areas as Myanmar fighter jets fire towards Bangladesh During Bangladesh’s Presidency of Climate Vulnerable Forum, it launched ‘Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan’, which aims to put Bangladesh on a sustainable trajectory from “one of vulnerability to resilience to climate prosperity,” she said. “Our national plans and policies on climate change and natural disaster are gender responsive and take into account the critical role of women in adaptation and mitigation,” said Hasina. She said Bangladesh is ready to support other vulnerable countries to develop their own prosperity plans. “I call on world leaders to promote inclusive climate action,” she said. Read PM in NY: Rohingyas living in Myanmar’s Arakan since 8th century Zero tolerance policy on terrorism and extremism The Prime Minister reiterated Bangladesh’s stance of 'zero tolerance' to terrorism and violent extremism. “We do not allow our territory to be used by any party to incite or cause terrorist acts or harm to others,” she said. She also called upon the UN member states to work together for the conclusion of an internationally binding instrument to tackle cyber-crimes and cyber-violence. Bangladesh fully committed to protecting human rights As a responsible member state, Bangladesh is fully committed to protecting and promoting human rights of its own people, PM Hasina said. “We have adopted a holistic and inclusive approach to ensure the political, economic, cultural and social rights of the people.” Read Myanmar’s shelling inside Bangladesh “unintentional mistake”, Momen says in NY She said Bangladesh is interested in looking for transformative solutions to poverty alleviation, mitigating climate change effects, preventing conflicts and finance, energy and fuel crises that the world is grappling with now. Dhaka to continue supporting Palestine The premier said Bangladesh will continue to extend its support to the occupied Palestinian people. She reiterated Bangladesh’s unequivocal support for the two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders and the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Read Helicopters attack school, village in north-central Myanmar, 7 children among 13 killed Briefly describing the success of Bangladesh in controlling COVID-19, she said, as of August 2022, hundred percent of the eligible population of Bangladesh have been vaccinated. Besides, in the 77th UN General Assembly 2022, Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina highlighted the economic progress of the country, its successes in different sectors including education, food security and health, and gender inequality.
Global Climate Strike 2022 was observed in Bangladesh with hundreds of young people turning out in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka today. ActionAid Bangladesh, with 72 countries, organized the Climate Strike in collaboration with Fridays for Future and youth groups. The goal of the climate strike is to urge all nations to act immediately in support of climate justice — by sending a loud, yet nonviolent statement, according to a press release. Read: PM to focus on peace & climate change in her UNGA speech: Momen The youngsters demanded that the government declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ and that world leaders prioritize ‘people not profit’.
The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) will help Bangladesh to reduce its vulnerability to the adverse impacts of climate change by having relevant ministries, departments and other stakeholders together for collective and urgent climate action, speakers said at a workshop on Sunday. The workshop on the final draft of the NAP was held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, jointly organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and CEGIS-led consortium. The concerned ministries validated the National Adaptation Plan in the workshop after a series of consultation workshops held under the initiatives of the ‘Formulation and Advancement of the National Adaptation Plan Process in Bangladesh’ project of UNDP and in partnership with the Environment Ministry and Economic Relations Division supported by the Green Climate Fund. The NAP has been considered as the most valuable plan for adapting to climate change which helps countries conduct comprehensive medium and long-term climate adaptation planning, depending on adaptation capabilities and activities and integration of climate change in the national decision-making process. Read: "Bangladesh should not have to carry the burden of climate change alone" The main objectives of the NAP are to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change by building adaptive capacity and resilience and adaptation to new and existing policies and programmes, especially development strategies. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 129 developing countries have initiated their NAP process, of which Bangladesh is not an exception. Addressing the workshop as the chief guest, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin said the government formulated the NAP to address the risks of climate change based on the views of concerned ministries, departments, and will be implemented with the cooperation of all concerned. He said if the National Adaptation Plan is implemented in Bangladesh, it will be easier to deal with climate change by taking and implementing long-term integrated adaptation programs. “Specific adaptation needs for Bangladesh were identified and appropriate implementation strategies were incorporated in the plan,” he said. The Minister said this plan is not merely a national plan, but it will also reflect the country’s commitment in the world forum over climate adaptation. Read: What can COP27 do for climate vulnerable countries? Deputy Minister for environment Habibun Nahar stressed mainstreaming the climate change adaptation and said, “I believe NAP will integrate adaptation with national planning by prioritizing Climate Change Adaptation through its six goals.” She thanked UNDP and the Green Climate Fund for their support in formulating the National Adaptation Plan. Stefan Liller, Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh highlighted the leadership role of Bangladesh in climate adaptation. He said, “The finalization of NAP could not be made at a more apt period of time, as we look ahead to COP27 in November, where countries including Bangladesh will gather to discuss progress on the Global Goals on Adaptation strategies to support the most climate vulnerable.” “UNDP is committed to continuing supporting the Government of Bangladesh on its journey of advancing and implementing NAP to achieve the agenda 2030 for a climate resilient future,” he added. Water resources (sr) secretary Kabir Bin Anwar and ERD secretary Sharifa Khan, among others, spoke at the workshop presided over by environment secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed.
Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will travel to Athens, Greece, August 28-29 to meet with government counterparts on efforts to reduce global emissions, decarbonize ocean-based shipping, and continue the momentum of the Our Ocean Conferences. From August 30-September 1, Secretary Kerry will travel to Bali, Indonesia to attend the G20 Climate and Environment Ministerial Meeting, where he will meet with government counterparts to further enhance cooperation on the climate crisis and highlight the positive climate impact of the Inflation Reduction Act. Read: Act now on climate front, listen to countries like Bangladesh: Bachelet Kerry will then travel to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, September 2-4, and Hanoi, Vietnam, September 4-6 to meet with government officials, civil society representatives, and business leaders to build consensus on key actions to address the climate crisis and accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. This trip will also be an opportunity to engage in discussions on climate cooperation ahead of the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP27) to be hosted in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt November 6-18, 2022, according to the US Department of State.