The Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL), Oxfam International’s local alliance of 200 local- national civil society and grass-root level organizations yesterday expressed grave concern regarding the media reports of the 7th October reporting that following rough sea conditions 140 fishermen are missing in the Bay of Bengal.
This alliance firmly believes based on scientific analysis that the fisher folks of Bangladesh are facing dire consequences like those of the 7th October due to Climate Change.
A research report, commissioned by CSRL and conducted by Dr. Ahsan Uddin Ahmed a former climate scientist of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) who is also the Convener of the CSRL, titled ‘livelihoods of coastal fishermen in peril: in search of early evidence of climate change induced adverse effects in Bangladesh,’ highlights that the frequency of rough sea conditions caused by low pressure and depressions in the Bay of Bengal is the result of increased Sea Surface Temperature, which is the consequence of climatic change.
It is relevant to mention here that the IPCC fourth assessment report stated that, warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea level.
Ziaul Hoque Mukta, Member Secretary of the CSRL, appeals to the government of Bangladesh to take immediate action, and initiate judicial actions against the industrialised nations who have for years been contributing to global warming.
He said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, recently made praise worthy speech at the UN on behalf of the climate affected people of Bangladesh, but more action is needed.’
“Time has now come to explore the required avenues to take legal action to protect the climate-affected people of Bangladesh,” he said. The Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (CSRL), demands justice and equity at the global climate negotiation, said a Oxfam press release.
