The world’s top emitters had given commitment that they would provide climate fund US$ 100 billion every year to the less wealthy countries badly affected by the high rate of emission. Besides, the most emitters like China, the United States, and India on several occasions came up with promises that they would cut emissions as much as possible. But all those pledges were not fulfilled while in fact, greenhouse gas emissions continued to rise.
Increased temperatures, drought and water stress, diseases, and weather extremes have created challenges for the people of developing world. The impact of climate change is also affecting all regions around the world.
Polar ice shields are melting and the sea is rising. In some regions, extreme weather events and rainfall are becoming more common while others are experiencing more extreme heat waves and droughts. Some countries could not fulfill their pledges, and some of the world’s largest carbon emitters continued increasing their emissions. The developed countries are enjoying rapid development, and then transferring pollution to developing nations.
Governments should urgently
address the growing adaptation
needs at local and national level
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin in a LDC ministerial meeting held in Senegal Wednesday, said the developed countries should minimise the gap in mobilising and disbursing US$ 100 billion per year with the balance of 50:50 between mitigation and adaptation. All countries should urgently address the growing adaptation needs at local and national level.
The scale of loss and damage is already significant at just over one degree Celsius of warming and will continue to grow if climate change is not halted.
Now it is the time to design and build the funding arrangements that are absolutely needed to address loss and damage. To this end, global emissions must be reduced by 45 percent by 2030 compared to 2010 levels.
The developed countries must take the lead in global mitigation efforts and the countries with greater capabilities particularly G-20 countries should also play significant role in this regard. Earlier Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called for ensuring $100 billion a year for developing countries to save them from climate change impacts.
The issue of loss and damage must be addressed, including global sharing of responsibility for climate migrants displaced by sea-level rise, salinity increase, river erosion, floods, and droughts. World community must take bold actions to address the issue of loss and damage.