CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 industrialized countries in absolute values, define national emissions reduction strategies for developing countries, draw up a global approach to the fight against deforestation, define action plans for adapting to climate change, and draw up an international financing mechanism for all these actions. But it has to be "emitters must pay" for its success.

Since 1997 we are witnessing conferences and meetings on climate change, but no effective measures have yet been taken to address climate change impacts. First, commitments made by industrialized countries for reduction of CO 2 should be verifiable under the umbrella of the United Nations and secondly, they should ensure helping developing countries with technologies and financial assistance to reduce carbon emissions and adopt environmentally friendly projects. It is impera-

tive to address poverty problem that many countries in Asia and Africa, are facing which may travel without passports in many unpleasant forms as stated in Human Development Report of UNDP of 1993. Therefore, there is a need for concerted efforts against poverty.

In the interest of the security of rich countries they should invest in the development of the developing countries to reduce level of poverty. However, the timing of the conference is not suitable when the countries are in economic recession. It would be rather difficult to have financial commitments from industrialist countries. Still we wish success of the Copenhagen conference.

Mohammad Amjad Hossain, a retired Bangladesh diplomat and past president of Nova Toastmasters International Club, writes from Virginia.