Bangladesh needs global help to tackle climate change

Coastal Association for Social Transformation Trust (COAST) Bangladesh, at UNHCR annual dialogues in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday sought global assistance for the country to cope with the climate change impacts.

“Bangladesh needs huge international assistance to cope with the impact of climate change though the country is investing bigger amounts,” Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, representative of COAST Bangladesh, said at the dialogues, according to a message received here on Saturday.

Chowdhury, who presented a case study from Bangladesh, said that climate change would make one third area of the country vulnerable to inundation, creating unbearable population density leading to huge economic and social security threat though the country is hardly responsible for climate changes.

Other speakers at the discussion laid emphasis on global solidarity and cooperation in respect of climate displacement especially its two global compacts - refugees and migration.

The event titled “Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities in the Global Compacts” was held in Geneva International Conference Centre on the eve of ongoing UNHCR Annual Dialogue.

It was moderated by Atle Solberg from Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD).

Besides Rezaul Karim Chowdhury of COAST, Neil Turner from Norwegian Refugee Council, Sarnata Reynolds from Oxfam USA and Marine Frank from UNHCR took part in the dialogue as panelists.

Neil Turner from Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) called for durable solutions, predictability for responding to the large movements and responsibility sharing mechanism in respect of two global compacts - refugees and migration.

Sarnata Reynolds from Oxfam USA, depicted how climate displacement is creating problems for women and children who are already vulnerable in developing countries. Climate displacement is also eroding social capitals, she added.

Summing up the dialogues, Atle Soleberg, the moderator, mentioned six points in need, which are policy coherence, relevancy of the issues for implications in both the compacts, breaking of climate impacts to different groups of population with different types of vulnerabilities, better preparedness with anticipation and predictability, responsibility and sharing of burden in regional and international level, and global solidarity in this regard.