In the fight against climate change, political apathy is not an option.
Next month’s COP22 in Morocco will be crucial in coming to a consensus on how to keep the global temperature rise under 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius.
As one of the world’s most vulnerable countries, Bangladesh needs a specific plan on how to tackle the challenge from our end.
Right now, a more stringent plan is needed from all countries involved if we are to meet the 1.5 degree goal. While 186 countries across the world have already submitted their plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2030, the current path would result in a global temperature rise of over 3 degrees Celsius.
And that is not good enough.
Poorer countries suffer the most from the adverse effects of climate change. While it is the richer countries that happen to be the biggest emitters, ironically it is poor countries like Bangladesh that end up paying the price.
The problem of food security is one that may hit us particularly hard, especially at a time when the government is working so hard to make starvation a thing of the past through special food programs for the ultra poor.
Although great strides have been made in food production, and recently introduced safety net programs (subsidised rice for the poor) are likely to further reduce poverty and hunger, all these gains could be lost if the melting of the polar ice caps is not arrested. Over the coming decades, rising sea levels and increasing salinity in our rivers will substantially reduce our agricultural land as well as our food production. There is a high probability that Bangladesh will face famine unless carbon emissions are substantially reduced.
The adverse effects of climate change could deal a great blow to Bangladesh, and undermine all our development efforts.
Food is just one of the challenges worsened by climate change. Coastal and river erosion, salinity, and water-logging, all contribute to a loss of livelihood.
This is a fight that will require the combined political will of all countries involved. COP22 is a chance for us to get to work.