The country’s poverty will increase by 15 percent within 2030 under the influence of global climate change challenges, a study conducted by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) said.
The study report was disclosed by the TIB at a view exchange meeting titled ‘Bangladesh Climate Finance Governance: Institutionalisation and Applied Progress, Challenge and Possibility’ at Brac Centre Inn in the city on Wednesday.
Bangladesh, it says, is at risk due to the universal climate change. The salinity may augment in its costal areas. The rice and wheat production may decrease by 40 percent within 2050 for global warming, the working paper revealed.
According to the global risky index 2013, Bangladesh is described as the most hazardous country due to the climate change and the condition will continue the next 20 years. If the bottom of the sea rises up, the tigers in the Shundarban will dwindle by 96 percent.
TIB Trustee Board Chairperson Sultana Kamal presided over the function while Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju was the chief guest. Member of the Trustee Board of TIB Hafiz Uddin Khan and Climate Finance Governance Project’s Convener M Zakir Hossain Khan were, among others, present.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekaruzzaman moderated the function.
Anwar Hossain Manju said, his ministry has been trying to implement the project initiated for the climate change challenges through accountability and transparency.
The limited and individual wealth is not enough to fight against the challenges created by the climate change, he said, adding, “So, integrated efforts are needed to put pressure on the developed nations for release of the money they promised”.
Professor Monwar Hossain said that Bangladesh has already shown its expertise in formulating projects related to climate change, but could not achieve expected progress in implementing the projects due to various constraints.
“More research is needed to understand the impacts to cope with the climate change elaborately,” he said.
Masud Ahmed, comptroller and auditor general (CAG) of Bangladesh said that his office attaches priority to high risk and high value in auditing the projects taken to cope the adverse impacts of climate change, but there is no need to audit all the climate projects.
TIB in its paper proposed formation of a high-powered commission for climate finance governance and diplomatic efforts for fund release.
TIB Executive Director Iftekaruzzaman said, the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund is an instance of the government’s keenness to face the climate change challenges, which paves the way for colleting more funds from the international sources.
He urged the government for more allocation for this sector, as the allocated Tk 200 crore for fiscal year 2014-15 is not enough to cope with the impacts of the global warming.
