M.A. Jabbar :
World Environment Day is celebrated on June 05 each year that stimulates awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and public action. June 5 was the day that United Nations Conference on the Human Environment began in 1972. It was established by the United Nations, General Assembly in 1972. The first world Environment Day was in 1973. World Environment Day is hosted every year by a different city with a different theme and is commemorated with an international exposition in the week of 5 June.
The theme of the World Environment Day of 2014 is International year of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Climate change is a major challenge for SIDS, as global warming is causing ocean levels to rise. Due to their small size and isolation, SIDS are more vulnerable to natural and environmental disasters, climate change and sea-level rise. However, these islands have also been successful in overcoming their environmental problems. From Palau to Puerto Rico, the stories of resiliency and innovation abound. From Trinidad and Tobago to Tonga, Samoa to Suriname, the problems that these small islands face – climate change, waste management, unsustainable consumption, degradation of natural resources, extreme natural disasters in the midst of overpopulation and continuing industrialisation – are the problems that face us all.
The United Nations Secretary-General in his message on World Environment day 5 June 2014 urges: “Raise your voice, Not the Sea Level”. To quote part of the message : World Environment Day 2014 falls during the international year of Small Island Developing states, declared by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness of the special needs of this diverse coalition as part of the global discussion on how to achieve a sustainable future for all. The world’s small island nations, which are collectively home to more than 63 million people, are renowned as prized destinations: places of outstanding natural beauty, vibrant culture, and music appreciated around the globe. While small in total, the land size of small island nations does not reflect their importance as stewards of nature’s wealth on land and sea. They play an important role in protecting the oceans and many are biodiversity hotspots, containing some of the richest reservoirs of plants and animals on the planet. Despite these assets, Small Island Developing States face numerous challenges. For a significant number, their remoteness affects their ability to be part of the global supply chain, increases import costs-especially for energy-and limits their competitiveness in the tourist industry. Many are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – from devastating storms to the threat of sea level rise. On World Environment Day, millions of individuals, community groups and businesses from around the world take part in local projects – from clean up campaigns to art exhibits to tree-planting drives. He urges everyone to think about the plight of Small Island Developing States and to take inspiration from their efforts to address climate change, strengthen resilience and work for a sustainable future. UN Under Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner says, SIDS contribute little to the problem of climate change – the combined annual carbondioxide output of these nations accounts for less than one percent of global emissions. Yet they are especially vulnerable to the changing climate due to their small size, narrow resources base, susceptibility to natural hazards, low economic resilience, and limited for mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. H.E. Freundel Stuart, Prime Minister of Barbados says, we raise the collective voices of SIDS, once again, in calling for stronger and more concrete political action and solutions to enable us to realise a future not only a resilience, but also a prosperity for our island nations. For, given the interconnectedness of the planet, our prosperity is also that of our neighbours in the developed and developing world.
It is sad that despite 18 years of negotiations, a legally binding document on global warming still remains a far cry. It is out of such compulsion the countries that stand to suffer most from climate change formed the Climate Vulnerability Forum before Copenhagen COP 15 in 2009.
CVF has since come about as an advocacy group and a communication platform. The Climate Vulnerability Monitor documents data and research for communicating new evidence of the adverse impacts of climate change; the first edition of the publication is already an international reference tool.
Bangladesh is a disaster-prone country. Almost every year, the country experiences disasters like tropical cyclones, storm surges, coastal erosion, floods, and droughts causing heavy loss of life and prosperity thus jeopardising the development activities. The country is already beset with many problems like high traffic-jam, sanitation, pollution, population density, shortage of land to accommodate, human health, illiteracy etc. The country is likely to be one of the most vulnerable countries of the world in the event of climate change. The global warming due to the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the earth’s atmosphere and the consequent sea level rise are going to add fuel to the fire. Almost every sector of socio-economic life in Bangladesh is likely to be affected by climate change.
Government of Bangladesh is very cordial to address the problem related to climate change. This is reflected through Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s remarks on climage change regarding the launch of the 2012 climate vulnerability monitor at Asia Society New York on September 26, 2012. In her speech she says, the impact of climate change on the developing countries, particularly on low-income countries like Bangladesh is compounded by high population density, low resource base, high incidence of natural disasters, salinity intrusion and submergence of land due to sea level rise. The situation would become disastrous with even a meter rise of sea level due to global warming as it would inundate a fifth of Bangladesh, displacing nearly thirty million people and leading to mass movement of people. The scenario would be just as horrifying for small island developing states like Maldives, Kiribati and Tuvalu.
As a responsible member state of the international community, Bangladesh is always respectful to world community and will never exceed the average per capita emission of the developing countries. The problem of climate change cannot be addressed through individual efforts of a particular state or country. World leaders, particularly of the developed world have to realise the gravity of the situation and come forward for a better world. The theme of World Environment Day this year is very timely and appropriate and be utilised by the world community in a befitting manner. Working together we shall certainly win over the effect of climate change thus keep our environments free from hazards for a habitable world.
(M.A.Jabbar writes on health and environment issues and is executive secretary of ADHUNIK, national anti-tobacco organization of Bangladesh.)
