The Future Of Climate Change Negotiation

Abstract

The paper is analysis of examining the current trend of climate change diplomacy carry forward by the government of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a one of the most vulnerable country due to the global climate change, though Bangladesh is a less carbon emitted country. Global climate is changing due to the massive carbon emission. It is a trans boundary issue which cannot be solved by single state or actor, co-operation and coordination is needed to address the issue properly in the International level. In the first part of the paper, the analysis of the climate change vulnerability in Bangladesh and the key reasons for climate change. In the middle, there is a critical analysis of Bangladesh position in different climate change dialogues and performance of Bangladesh in the bilateral and multilateral negotiations. The paper concluded with a roadmap to make the more effective diplomacy in climate change dialogues so that Bangladesh could attain optimum assistance from the international community to mitigate the challenges and adapt with the Global climate change.

Objective of the study

The paper aims to analyze an analytical description of climate change scenario of Bangladesh and actions of Bangladesh government to adapt with the global climate change. To find out key reasons of climate change and identify the critical gaps and challenges for implementing climate change adaptation policies. They key objective of the study is to analyze Bangladesh’s position in different climate change negotiations and dialogues as well as roles of Bangladesh on those dialogues.to find out climate diplomacy and some policy recommendation to improve the position of Bangladesh in climate change negotiation and politics.

Introduction

Bangladesh is one of the most climate vulnerable country in the world due the global climate change, many disasters like cyclone, drought are likely to more frequently and severe in the coming years. Geographical location of Bangladesh is in the lower southern area with bordering The Bay of Bengal. Several climate induced hazards already affecting many people of Bangladesh, especially lower southern part and the North West part of the country. Due to this vulnerability Bangladesh is highly concern of the global environmental change and has been taking lead position in different climate change dialogues and conferences. The government of Bangladesh has taken a lot of initiatives and policies to adapt with the impacts of climate change. About 300 Million USD has been allocated to implement adaptation and mitigation actions which is recommended by Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) in 2009-2012. To strengthen coordination and management of the climate change adaption and mitigation the climate change unit (CCU) has been established.

Climate is one of the Sustainable development goals which is a trans-border issue that cannot be solved without the co-operation and mutual actions of the states and non-states actors. This paper gives a critical analysis of Bangladesh’s delegation of different climate change summit and, what are the challenges Bangladesh has been facing on that negotiations and some recommendation how to improve the role and position of Bangladesh in climate change dialogues. Key reasons for climate change: Climate is a trans boundary issue by which every states has been facing a lots of vulnerabilities but in the south Asian region and the lower part of the globe is facing most vulnerabilities due t6 the global climate change. There are several components in climate air, water, soil are polluted for different reasons.

After analyzing many reports and books here I stated some key reasons for global climate change:

1. Emission chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
2. Burning down fossil fuels.
3. Deforestation.
4. Over urbanization.
5. Over Industrialization
6. Industrial discharge in the atmosphere.
7. Using of insecticides.
8. Carbon emission from vehicles and military equipment’s.
9. Sound is polluted trough Microphones, Industrial machinery, airplanes, etc.

Climate change scenario of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is facing a lot of vulnerability due to the global climate change, according to current scientific understanding, the survival of the people of Bangladesh will face a serious threat from the global climate change in the coming decades. Already the peoples of Bangladesh are facing massive climate induced effects in the recent years. Climate change induced hazards like the cyclone, river erosion, breakdown of ecological balance, Global warming, scarcity of clean drinkable water, and other natural calamities washed away thousands of lives and massive loss of property.

Global survey report of Most affected area due to climate change The National Adaptation Programme For Action highlighted prediction of the rise of sea levels, rainfall in Bangladesh because of Global climate change. According to recent estimates,14.6 million people of coastal areas of Bangladesh are vulnerable due to the increasing number of cyclones and it is predicted that by 2050 it will reach by 18.5 million. Bangladesh is predominately agricultural society, with two thirds of the population directly involve with the agricultural activities. The heavy rainfall, sometime drought, and other natural calamities heavily affected the food production and livelihood of those majority people.

Background of climate change negotiation

Global climate is gradually changing, the adverse effects is challenging the survival of the human being. Due to the irresponsible and human made activities the environment is polluted. The main reasons is the Emission of CFC gases in the air which lead to the global warning. Due to global warming the huge ice burg is melting in the artic region and the existence of the species of that region is under threatened. Sea level is rising and the lower part of the world gradually submerged under the water. The countries like Tuvalu, Kiribati, Some parts of Australia, Bangladesh, Maldives etc. is facing great challenges due to the effects of Global climate change. The number of environmental refugee is also increasing and the internally displaced persons creates challenges to the ecology.

Rapid urbanization

Lead to the deforestation and industrial revolution increasing the global carbon emission. The rich industrialized countries are reasonable to this huge carbon emission but the poor southern countries facing the challenges. Due to global climate change the main crisis raised is the scarcity of pure drinkable water, countries are involved with conflicts for controlling the water sources. Especially in the Arab world and Africa, water is the most valuable components, thousands of peoples died due to water related disease. Climate is a Trans boundary issues which cannot be solved without co-operation and mutual initiatives so United Nations included climate in sustainable development goals. In recent decades climate change issue is a matter of debate and gets priority in the international politics. UNFCCC is established for the climate issues, many countries promised and agreed with the policies and agreement in different negotiations and conference.

Delegation of Bangladesh in global climate change negotiations

The ministry of foreign affairs to the Bangladesh has a major role in different global climate change negotiations. MOFA is responsible to play active role at the international level to carry out bilateral and multilateral negotiations, In different climate change negotiations Bangladesh plays a significant role due to Bangladesh ranked in the top listed most vulnerable country induced by global climate change. The most affected areas are in the lower part of Bangladesh. In 2011, the ministerial meetings of the climate vulnerable forum organized by jointly Ministry of Environment and forest speak some excellent example of success of Bangladesh in climate negotiations. In order to expending climate change negotiations, Bangladesh has already taken some effective adaptation initiatives “Bangladesh climate change strategy and action plan (BCCSAP)Bangladesh endeavors towards making the use of diplomatic affiliations in an attempt to address the climate change issue more noticeable as well as Bangladesh government is deliberately presents Bangladesh as a most victim peace loving and responsible poor actor in the climate change discourse.

Bangladesh plays lead state role in the last conference of parties, and CVF chairperson says, Bangladesh plays a responsible player in the climate change negotiations with the developed countries to cut out the carbon emission and as well as positive attachment of Bangladesh in climate negotiations. At high level event organized during the annual United Nations climate summit in Doha, The ministers of the government of Bangladesh addressed the issues of climate change the height’s priority of climate change issue. Hasan Mahmud, Honorable minister, Ministry of environment and forest said; “Two third of the country is less than 5m above the sea level and vulnerable to coastal inundation which is already experiencing” To achieve the vision 2021 to be a middle income country and by 2041 a rich country, Bangladesh should integrate with the climate change issues for its need to strengthen the Ministry Of Forest and Environment with the International collaboration and proper expertize to address the challenges of global climate change.

Achievement of Bangladesh

Bangladesh has aligned with development partner to counter the challenges of climate change and able to establish innovative financing mechanism-Bangladesh climate change resilience fund. BCCRF is successfully channeled 170 US dollar fund from the Australia, Sweden, Denmark, EU, USA, UK and other developed countries. Just like Bangladesh is setting in the driver seat and strengthening the issue. The World Bank is the Trustee of BCCRF to ensure accountability and transparency. The government of Bangladesh also created another trust fund named "Bangladesh climate change trust Fund" and allocated 350US dollar from its national resources.

One of the major block "Climate vulnerable forum”, Bangladesh plays a significant role in this forum of 48 members. In this forum Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina plays a lead role from few years, Bangladesh Foreign Service leads the Delegation of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is also prominent member of the group of vulnerable 20(V20), Bangladesh is represented by Economic resources division of the ministry of finance. Bangladesh is not only confined its negotiation in UNFCC but also take part with negotiation with bilateral and multilateral conference with the most vulnerable states and the most carbon emitted developed countries. The climate change issues is not tackled by the single state of actor, so the involvement of the global players and co-operation is needed to address the issue properly, Bangladesh is doing the same to reduce the climate induced effects. Bangladesh is trying to replace the word most vulnerable country with most climate adapted country.

The future of climate change negotiation

In the previous chapter have discussed about the climate change negotiations, the position of Bangladesh as well as the vulnerabilities of Bangladesh induced by global climate change, the root cause and international and national responses of Bangladesh. In this section there is an analysis of past events and a hypothesis of future negotiations. A lot of treaty protocol and agreement was signed but it is true that there is some progress has been made. Without global agreement some countries reduced its carbon emission rate than the previous due to the adverse effects of global climate change.

Many developing countries agreed to cut down the GHG emission under LCA-DP process, the challenges of the road to Qatar is still stewn with setting mitigation targets specially. The NAMA should get high level of support like the technology needs assessment and NAMA needs assessment for Investment along with adaptation and Convention. Along with the agreement there should be enough initiative to implement of those agreements and promises. there is still the issue of Implementation is neglected in the national and International level. The IUCN suggests that, the problems should be identifies and enough money and technology should be available .one of the major challenges long term capacity building in the agenda of negotiations.

Another is the issue of agriculture has been discussed but not addressed properly in the relation with food security, Countries should give compensation to the most vulnerable countries and have to keep their promises to reduce the carbon emissions. The most affected countries should take the lead state role in climate change negotiation’s and appoint special envoy to the climate change delegation. Bangladesh is ready to do everything to reduce the climate vulnerabilities and for safety of human beings.

How Bangladesh can improve its position

To take the leadership in different climate change negations and to improve the position in climate dialogues and conferences, there need for taking some key activities. To improve the position Bangladesh should think about the high level of climate change envoys and the employment of the envoy should be based on past experience, negotiation skill, trust to the interest of the government. Bangladesh needs to make the case for getting due shared based on performance with transparency and good governance to get financial support from any International level and also from donor agencies. Bangladesh should address the climate vulnerabilities in the international level though the position of Bangladesh is in the least carbon emitted country. The highest carbon emitted countries are the fast growing developing countries like, China, India, Brazil, South Africa as well the developed countries like USA, South Korea, and EU countries.

Bangladesh should persuade them that they have rights to development but they don’t have the rights to pollute the environment and there is technology for development to reduce the proportion of emission, countries have to use those technology in Industries. Mohahmmad Tariqul Islam an assistant Professor of Jahangir Nagar University suggests that, The ministry of foreign affairs should arrange regular briefing and meeting on climate negation’s and delegation of Bangladesh and also can send some junior Officers in abroad for higher studies about climate diplomacy and negotiations. He also suggests that, Bangladesh should employ special climate change negotiators and envoys for delegation of Bangladesh in International meetings and conferences, many developing countries have appointed such special envoys and advisors.

Conclusion

Bangladesh is one of the most threatened by climate change. To stress the urgency of arriving a serious global agreement soon, Bangladesh have to engage with climate diplomacy, Bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. It is apparent that, the countries that are most threatened by climate change, like the Bangladesh, must do all they can to break the deadlock. To stress the urgency of arriving at a serious global agreement soon, the governments of Bangladesh can engage in what might Climate Change, climate diplomacy etc. A recently published report of the Maple craft of United Kingdom, which has conducted a survey on 170 countries revealed that Bangladesh is in the top 16 countries that will be most vulnerable due the global climate change in next 30 years. Some other renowned civil societies and non-government organizations found that in the state of global climate change Bangladesh as one of the most vulnerable country.

Bangladesh has been one of the proactive LDC’s is taking the climate change issues very seriously and taking strong policies and has developed scientific capacities to alleviation of the casualties of climate change. In this paper an analysis of Bangladesh position in climate change dialogues and key challenges of Bangladesh is mentioned.

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