Climate Change Fallout
Rushanara to stand by Dhaka
British Labour Party lawmaker Rushanara Ali has pledged to mobilise international support for Bangladesh in efforts to adapt to climate change.
“I will use my position as much as I can to support Bangladesh,” said Rushanara, also UK shadow minister for International Development.
She was speaking at a meet-the-press on “Mock Climate Tribunal” scheduled for Monday. The Oxfam’s Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL) has organised the mock tribunal.
On the responsibility of wealthy nations on the issue, she said the most powerful nations must ensure that climate change remains at the heart of their international development programme.
Climate change “cannot fall off the international agenda” due to the global financial meltdown, said the first-ever British lawmaker of Bangladesh descent.
Rushanara said she would try her best to ensure that the climate change issues continue to be a priority for the British coalition government.
The wealthy nations have a huge role to play in curbing carbon emission and providing financial assistance to the vulnerable countries to enhance their capability to adapt to global warming.
“Climate change affects all of us. So it is their obligations to continue their support,” said Rushanara, who has academic background in economics.
The British lawmaker hoped that the present UK government would translate its commitment into action by increasing UK’s Overseas Development Assistance to 0.7 percent of the gross domestic production (GDP) by 2013.
“We will continue to push government so that it happens,” she said.
The global climate change fund should be utilised to help vulnerable countries like Bangladesh combat adverse impact of the changing climate.
Rushanara said the Labour Party would push for giving support to Bangladesh and ensuring contribution from the UK’s funds.
The European Union has also a part to play in terms of financial contributions for countries like Bangladesh that are vulnerable to climate change, she said.
The British lawmaker, who is expected to attend the Climate Tribunal as a distinguished observer, said it is a unique way of looking into the thing.
The participants’ testimonies would create awareness among people across the globe about the adverse impact of climate change.
“It could be a potential model for other countries as well,” she said.
Ziaul Hoque Mukta, policy and advocacy manager, OXFAM; Dr Ahasan Uddin Ahmed; convenor of Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods; and Dr Ahmed, International Law expert attended the meet-the-press.
Mukta said it is time to explore the prospects of having international agreements with legal bindings to protect the most vulnerable countries like Bangladesh from climate change.
Victims of climate change from Barguna will testify at the mock tribunal headed by Prof Dr Mizanur Rahman, chairman of National Human Rights Commission.
Members of the jury are: Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed and lawmakers Hasanul Huq Inu, Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Tarana Halim.
