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Take effective steps to reduce greenhouse gas emission

G-8 leaders urged

Staff Correspondent
South Aslan civil society leaders yesterday called on G-8 leaders to enter into legally binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 percent or risk wiping out any developments in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.
Primary and Mass Education Adviser Rasheda K Choudhury said developed country leaders, not the poor, are in need of education about the far-reaching effects of global warming as they have not taken adequate action to mitigate it.
They were speaking at the concluding ceremony of (he two-day South Asian Civil Society Consultation on "Climate Change: Bali to Hokkaido what next?" in the city, where civil society experts and activists from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka brainstormed about possible courses of action.
They called for climate change
to top the agenda of the G-8 meeting in Hokkaido, a gathering of leaders of the eight most powerful countries in the world.
In a joint communique the regional civil society groups said, "Climate change is an emergency and if this crisis is not tackled urgently, all other development efforts in coming decades risk being wiped out."
In their recommendation, the groups called for the UN climate change process to a "Legally binding target of a minimum of 80% reduction in carbon emissions by2050."
They also called for greater attention to climate change concerns of the poor, equitable targets, eco-friendly policies from national governments and multilateral agencies, and for rich countries to pay for climate-change adaptation in least developed countries.
The joint communique also urged the World Bank to raise investments in renewable energy and find ways to reduce green-
house gas emissions.
It was undersigned by Indian group Don't Break the Promise, Enough is Enough from Pakistan, People's forurn on MDGs from Bangladesh, Citizen's Campaign for Democracy, Social TYansformation from Nepal, Sri Lanka's UN FrIendship Organisation and Sanayee Development Organisation in Afghanistan.
Adviser Rasheda said regional cooperation on climate change is a must as "We must have our own house in order" before others come and say it.
But she said that G8 leaders in Hokkaido must show that they can deliver on their promises to effectively mitigate climate change and asked developed country governments not to be passive onlookers.
She added, however, "Our masses are more aware than most of the effects of climate change because they live through it. Who need to be made aware the most
are global leaders who continue to neglect the issue."
Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain lamented the domination by developed countries of the Bali conference that was reflected in the 'watered-down' resolution.
He also called for a ' Technology TYansfer Board' like the existing 'Adaptation Board' to ensure that a greater number of adaptation funds and technology go towards countries that need them the most.
Touhid also said that a postKyoto agreement cannot stifle the development potential of developing countries, but also require a legally binding framework to mitigate climate change.
Chair of Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Asian Development Bank Country Director Hua Du, acting World Bank Country Director Edzardo Campos. Indian High Commissioner Pinak Chakravarty and Japanese Ambassador Masayuki Inoue also spoke.