Environmentalists and representatives of Khulna formed a human chain demanding compensation for the coastal people affected by climate change at Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference (COP 27) in Egypt Wednesday night (Bangladesh time).
They called on world leaders to justify climate change compensation and take effective measures to reduce carbon emissions.
Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Panel Mayor Ali Akbar Tipu, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology URP Discipline Head Professor Dr Mostafa Sarwar, Non-Governmental Organization Executive Director Shamim Arfeen, among others, participated in the human chain.
They raised the issues of rising water level, flooding, salinity, fresh water shortage, frequent storms and disasters in Bangladesh and the coastal areas of the country as a result of climate change.
They also said that despite not being responsible for climate change, various countries including Bangladesh are suffering. People's livelihood is being hampered especially in the coastal areas. The number of refugees, homeless, and unemployed people is increasing day by day.
Effective steps should be taken for these people. Besides, fair principles of damages and compensation should be implemented quickly, they added.
Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Panel Mayor Ali Akbar Tipu said: “The southwest coast of Bangladesh, including Khulna, is the most affected by climate change. Natural calamities make millions of people live precariously. The responsible countries are not taking effective steps even though the government is taking steps to the best of its ability.”
