Bangladesh should attach utmost importance to adaptation, financing, and development of technology at this year's UN Climate Conference (COP27), top climate change specialist Dr Ainun Nishat has said.
He said altogether eight issues are being discussed at COP27 this year.
“There was a new loss and damage discussion [on Sunday], but the discussion on this issue started from 1992. Almost 30 years have passed in bringing this issue into global discussion. This issue will continue to be discussed over the next three years. This is a good development,” the professor said.
However, he stressed that what is important for Bangladesh right at this moment is adaptation.
File photo of Dr Ainun Nishat, professor emeritus of BRAC University Courtesy“Adaptation requires a lot of money. The Bangladesh government approved an estimated $270 billion, but it will not be given in one day. It will be given in parts. Bangladesh should aim to ensure that the adaptation money does not decrease in any way. Loss and damage should not be included in this amount,” said Dr Ainun Nishat.
Regarding financing, he again stressed that time would be needed for funds to be disbursed once it has been requested but praised the introduction of transparency mechanisms.
“If you do not have skills in this field, you will not get any money. Bangladesh has zero skills in this regard. Therefore, Bangladesh should work to achieve competence internally,” he added.
The climate change expert also said that migration is an important issue for Bangladesh.
“Ten to fifteen years from now, the frequency of cyclones will increase. Food shortages will increase. The government has made sure that there is no food shortage, but the situation may worsen in the future and lead to more migration,” he said.
He also called for greater emphasis on solar energy and wind power.
Regarding loss and damage, Dr Ainun Nishat said: “The discussion on loss and damage began in 1992. Then there were discussions in 2012. Later in 2013, a global process was initiated on what needed to be done about it.
“Pakistan is currently the president of G77. They think they will get a lot of compensation for loss and damage due to floods in Pakistan. It is good to get compensation, but it is not logical. It will get worse day by day because by 2030 the temperature will increase by one and a half degrees Celsius. By 2050, temperatures will rise by two degrees. But no one is talking about it,” he added.
Dr Nishat also mentioned that he had seen the draft of a report, which is scheduled to be published in March, which noted that the temperature could rise by as much as 3.7 degrees by 2030.
“If the temperature rises by 2 degrees, there will be no wheat and potatoes in Bangladesh. Are we ready for this? Two to three million metric tons are needed in Bangladesh. We import 3 to 4 million tons of wheat,” he said.
“India has stopped exporting wheat from this year. The world's headache is now food shortages. Bangladesh is also now looking at food reserves. The Bangladesh government is also trying to invest money in food research in various ways. This initiative of the Bangladesh government is definitely commendable,” the professor further said.
“I think the Bangladesh delegation should actively participate in the adaptation and financing sessions. Island nations are more vocal when it comes to loss and damage. We will be with them; this is our commitment,” he concluded.
