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Think beyond Copenhagen

Climate expert feels a good chance missed already

PINAKI ROY
An internationally renowned climate-change expert from Bangladesh said the country missed its opportunity to play a role in the key negotiation process in Copenhagen and get a better bargain for itself.
Saleemul Haq also said Bangladesh should now think beyond Copenhagen and start implementing its action plans
on priority basis. He believes a political agreement is going to take place in Copenhagen, which is not legally binding.
The government has shown high political commitment on the issue but it does not have any permanent climate change SEE PAGE 15 COL 4 FROM PAGE 1 ambassador and thus failed to demonstrate leadership capabilities and take part in the negotiation process, he said.
Bangladesh should have taken preparations years ago and demonstrated its ability to lead the most vulnerable countries to be present at the core negotiation process, like Ethiopia and the Maldives have done recently, hesaid.
"We had the same opportunity but we lost it," Saleemu) Haq said.
He suggested that a qualified permanent climate change ambassador, who will report to and consult with the prime minister and negotiate on behalf of Bangladesh, should be appointed.
"Possibly the negotiations would not end in Copenhagen. It will go on to COP-16. So the country should think beyond Copenhagen," hesaid.
"A climate change fund is going to be formed in Copenhagen for which tens of billions of dollars will be raised. Bangladesh should try to get a good share of it to implement its adaptive measures," hesaid.
He, however, said Bangladesh is one of the pioneers in preparing climate change strategies and action plans. Now the government should translate that into action.
"The sooner we start implementing the action plans the better. But we need to increase our ability to utilise funds effectively," he
said. People from all sections of society should be engaged in this process, Salecmul said.
Asked to evaluate strategies and action plans of the country, he said no action plan is perfect. "Bangladesh should implement some of its priority action plans rather than wait for a perfect plan."
The government should make all development plans keeping in mind climatechange vulnerability, he added.
On many NGOs trying to get involved, he said many new actors arc getting on board, which is good. "One needs to depend on researchbased analysis to understand the problem. The government and non-government officials should increase their capacity,” hesaid.
When asked about climate-change research in the country, he said Bangladesh has reasonable research capacity compared to other least developed countries. "We need to enhance our capacity," hesaid.
"The potential to access future funding regarding climate change will not be based on who has the best slogan, it will be on who can demonstrate knowledge and ability to deliver, " he said.
Saleemul thinks the media has an important role in this issue and Bangladesh media has played a good role.
The media has to build their own capacity, acquire the knowledge and disseminate the right message among people.