Representatives from different civil society organisations have demanded to stop the use of fossil fuel immediately to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
They also said all efforts and initiatives could become unsuccessful if domestic and global stakeholders fail to reduce carbon emissions at the appropriate rate in order to keep it confined to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Their demand and remarks were made at a Post COP-26 discussion organised by the Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD) associated with BARCIK, CANSA-BD, CCDB, CDP, COAST Foundation, Maleya Foundation, NCC, B, SDS, and YPSA titled “A Post-Mortem of COP 26: Outcry, Outcome, and Takeaways”.
The meeting was held at Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Monday.
The discussion was chaired by QaziKholiquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation. The keynote speech was delivered by Md. Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive of CPRD.
Qamrul Islam Chowdhury, President, Bangladesh Environmental Journalist Forum, Dr. Nurul Quadir Ex-Additional Secretary, MOEFCC, Climate Change journalist forum’s president Kawser Rahman, Syed Jahangir Hasan Masum, Executive Director, CDP, Sundarbans and costal belt protection movement convener Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, among others, were present at the event.
In his speech, Dr. Kholiquzzaman said our policymakers often don’t see the regional problems and the problems of root-level people.
Sometimes they send people and collect information. So the information they give is not often from the heart rather more from their head. So this information is not the reflection of people that are mostly affected and the materialisation of their requirement is often neglected and that negative effect is seen in national and international policies, he added.
In his keynote speech, Md Shamsuddoha said instead of some limitations there are many significant achievements during this COP-26.
To tackle climate change, COP-26 has brought new hope. All parties evolve to pursue efforts to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 °C is the beginning of a new pathway, he added.
Dr Nuru lQader said observing the negative effects due to the global temperature rising 1.1 degree Celsius, the world parties in COP-26 has agreed to keep the global temperature within 1.5 degree Celsius.
Qamrul Islam Chowdhury said, “We went to COP with a determination to increase the coal ‘Phase out’ timeline, but due to the hindrance created by China, India and some other countries we had no other option but to accept ‘Phase down’ policy”.
Mr. Kawser Rahman complained that COP is slowly becoming a weapon to fulfill political motives and ignoring different scientific eagerness and suggestions.
Nikhil ChandroVadro said a specific adaptation plan needs to be taken in order to fulfill the requirements of the coastal people.
