Bangladesh can get at least $1 billion every year from developed countries as compensation under the Green Climate Fund but the money realisation will not be possible unless the government can form the National Designated Authorities (NDA).
The National Implementing Entity under the NDA will implement the projects with the help of the Green Climate Fund, says a research on Promoting Transparency in Climate Finance Governance carried out by the Transparency International Bangladesh.
The findings of the research were revealed at programme at the Brac Centre in Mohakhali yesterday. Environment Minister Anwar Hossain attended the event.
Zakir Hossain Khan, coordinator of TIB’s Good Governance in Climate Finance Project, presented the keynote paper in the presence of TIB Trustee Board Chairman Sultana Kamal and Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman.
“The developing countries (including Bangladesh) must set up NDA to get the money from the GCF. As of June 2014, only 22 countries have formed the NDA. We are yet to set such NDA,” he said.
“Bangladesh cannot form the NDA as the ministries and divisions cannot reach a consensus among themselves,” said the paper.
By 2020, the developed countries would give $200 billion for the GCF.
Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed, coordinator of the Community Climate Change Project of the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, told the meeting that formation of an NDA was very urgent to get the money from the GCF.
The Environment Ministry and the Finance Ministry are in disagreement over the NDA.
Quamrul Islam Chowdhury who participated most of the climate negotiations told the meeting that Bangladesh could get at least $1 billion every year from the GCF if it formed the NDA and National Implementing Entity.
Professor Mizanur Rahman Khan, a teacher of the North South University, said the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division of the Finance Ministry had the expertise to evaluate projects.
He suggested that no political beneficiaries should be included in the climate negotiations as civil society members.
Addressing the function, Environment Minister Anwar Hossain said he welcomed the TIB for criticising different government actions.
“I do not believe in blame game. I do not say you should pay as you [the developed countries] are responsible [for climate change],” he said.
“You cannot return from Washington DC by telling so,” he said with a smile, adding that he could simply demand money from the developed countries.
For instance, he said, he did not blame India for water paucity.
“I tell them [India], ‘You give me water in three months when we do not have water, and you take water as much as you want.’ They liked it this way,” said the minister.
