Effective steps need to be taken to prevent plastic and air pollution in order to protect and preserve the environment of the country's hills, forests, wildlife and rivers.
Environmental conservation organization, ‘Save Future Bangladesh’ made the demand, forming a human chain organized by the organization in front of the National Press Club on Friday.
Speakers at the human chain said, “Bangladesh, a country of 160 million people, is one of the countries most at risk from the effects of climate change. About 40 percent of the population of Bangladesh is children. Climate change is leading these children to a dark and insecure future.”
They added that global warming is causing the Himalayan glaciers to melt raising sea levels and increasing the risk of catastrophic disasters. The effects of climate change include floods, cyclones, droughts, tidal surges, tornadoes, earthquakes, river erosion, water logging and rising water, and increasing soil salinity.
They stated that according to research, by 2050, more than two crore people could be climate refugees. If the sea level rises by one meter, 20 percent of Bangladesh is in danger of being submerged and the coastal areas of Bangladesh will be most affected.
They called on world leaders to implement the Paris Agreement and collaborate to increase adaptation capacity. Global warming should be brought down to 1.5 degrees. Quick steps need to be taken to bring carbon emissions down to zero.
The speakers said, “We need to take swift actions to tackle climate change. Fulfill the promise made by the leaders of developing countries to allocate money to the Green Climate Fund and compensate the affected countries.”
Their other demands were increasing the adaptation process with the cooperation and coordination of all; sustainable rehabilitation of climate refugees; permanent solution of safe drinking water; building sustainable block dams across the coast and working to improve the living standards of the people in the coastal areas.
Nayan Sarkar, Chief Coordinator of Save Future Bangladesh, Mohammad Mofaz Ahmed, Program Officer, Rakibul Islam, Media and Logistics, Mohammad Swapan, Head of Logistics and others were present in the human chain.