CSOs urge developed nations to compensate carbon debt

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) called upon the developed country representatives and donors, who are participating in Bangladesh Development Forum (BDF), to pay their carbon debt as compensation.
A total of 21 CSOs yesterday formed a rally and human chain programme in front of National Press Club.
A two-day-long BDF meet started on Monday.
Speakers said that the country was facing great catastrophe caused by climate change, which is the result of high carbon emissions historically by the developed countries. The developed countries are indebted to the people of Bangladesh and they should pay their carbon debt, they added.
They alleged that developed countries are not keeping their commitment in supporting the climate change-affected countries.
They mentioned in the recent years Bangladesh is facing frequent and more intense cyclonic disaster which has clear link with the climate change. Cyclone SIDR in Bangladesh in 2007 caused death of 4000 lives and $ 1.7 billion of economic loss.
Cyclone AILA in Bangladesh in 2009 caused death of 150 lives and $ 1.5 billion of economic loss. But so far Bangladesh has received less than 20 per cent of the economic loss caused by these disasters. Such huge economic fallback was making the country bound to seek fund from the IFIs and other developed countries.
Meantime Bangladesh already indebted in such a way that the country has to pay 20 per cent of its revenue budget as debt servicing liabilities, which is much higher than its annual health and education budget.
Speakers mentioned that debt business, capitalising the climate crisis, by the developed countries was injustice. The developed countries did injustice historically by utilising more atmospheric space and global public goods than their fair shares.
A rally was also simultaneously organised in front of DFID office in London. The rally was jointly organised by World Development Movement (WDM), Jubilee Debt Campaign UK, Friends of the Earth and Christian Aid.
They criticised the role of DFID as this organisation is pressing Government of Bangladesh to allow World Bank to manage multi donor trust fund on climate change. It may be mentioned that, in response to a joint call by Equity BD and WDM, thousands of people in the UK sent e-mail to the UK Prime Minister for not channeling climate funds for Bangladesh through the World Bank. They also called to their government to allocate climate fund in addition to the existing ODA commitment of the UK government.
Moreover, World Bank will take commission to operate the fund which is contrary to the motive behind creating such fund, they said. The protesters said developed nations must increase their official development assistance (ODA) to real sectors where it is so needed without unnecessarily raising debt burden to Bangladesh and at the same time earmark new climate fund to face calamities.
Organisers declared that they would organise similar rally and human chain in front of National Press Club today demanding sovereign, democratic and responsible financing to make aid reaching to poor, transparent and locally accountable.
Mustafa Kamal Akanda of EquityBD moderated the rally where Badrul Alam of La Via Campesina, Feroz Ahmed of Lead Trust, Prodip Roy of On Line Knowledge Centre, Shamsuddoha and Rezaul K. Chowdhury of EquityBD also spoke.
From the human chain the organisers released a joint statement developed by twenty-one organisations which include Arpon, AMKS, Eso, Bangladesh Krishak Federation, CSRL, EquityBD, Kishani Shova, Lead Trust, On line Knowledge Centre, Potikrit, La Via Campesina, MFTD, Prantik, Purbasha, RCASV, Swadin Bangla Garments Sramik Federation, Solidarity Workshop, Sirajganj Flood Forum, Uddipan, Voice, EquityBD and World Development Movement -UK.

Courtesy of The New Nation