“No one listens to us?” COP-28 Climate Conference: Protest & appeal to the Global Community

01 Jan 2024 | 7: 51 pm

Every year, most of the world’s Heads of State or Government, Heads of Global organizations, scientists, climate-rights activists, related commercial organizations and related Government officials meet at the ‘Conference of Parties’ or ‘COP’ to take decisions to deal with the risks of climate change. But the question of how effective the decision of the conference is, remains unresolved. Difficult decisions cannot be taken due to diverging interests of different countries. Again, most of the decisions are not being implemented due to lack of legal obligations. This year, under the initiative of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), ‘Cop-28’ is going to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from November 30 to December 12, 2023. And this is why climate activists demand, ‘don’t chatter, act’ or ‘want a legal agreement, not an optional compromise’, “Is nobody listening to us?”

On November 28, 2023, Halishahar Nayabazar Chowchala Beach, Chittagong, in a novel protest human chain on the seashore, demanding ban on investment in fossil fuels including coal and gas and ensure a safe world for future generations. Non-governmental development organization ISDE Bangladesh, CAB Youth Group, BWGED (Bangladesh Working Group for Ecology and Development), Clean (Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network) jointly organized this demand to the world.

More demands were made at the protest rally; By 2030, industrialized countries must reduce their carbon emissions by at least 30 percent compared to 2005 levels and achieve zero emissions by 2050. In this case we want not ‘net zero’ but real ‘zero emissions’, regardless of developing and developed countries, the use of coal in power plants and industries must be stopped by 2030. In this case, the use of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) or CCS technology cannot be excused, financing and technology supply in fossil gas (including LNG) and petroleum must be canceled immediately. LNG expansion in the name of transition fuel must be stopped, direct financing and technology transfer for climate adaptation to vulnerable populations in least developed and developing countries, compensation for victims, not loans or private investment in LND funds. The inclusion of the World Bank and other financial institutions in the LND fund should be banned, national institutions should be built through technology transfer from industrialized countries for rapid and fair energy transition in less developed and developing countries like Bangladesh and self-sufficient in renewable energy through easy financing, According to the commitment of the industrialized countries, 10 billion dollars should be paid to the GCF every year to ensure adequate financing for the least developed and developing countries to deal with climate risks, more emphasis should be placed on the adaptation of the least developed and developing countries that are in extreme danger from the GCF. In addition, a just transition in the energy sector should be financed in these countries, populations forced to be displaced by climate change should be declared ‘climate refugees’ and given the right to free and dignified migration. In the implementation of the 30 percent methane reduction target by 2030, the food security of developing countries should be taken into consideration and the agricultural sector should be kept out of this target. And clear and detailed plans should be formulated for green transition in all sectors including industry, services and commerce.

ISDE Bangladesh Executive Director and CAB Central Committee Vice President S M Nazer Hossain, District Social Entrepreneurship Council Joint Secretary Mohammad Jane Alam, CAB Halishahar Thana President Amdadul Karim Saikat, Human Rights Leader Osman Jahangir, CAB Youth Group President Abu Hanif Noman, CAB Youth Group Joint Secretary Amzadul Haque Ayaz, Publicity Secretary Emdadul Islam, Maharaj Chowdhury etc spoken in solidarity with the protest program.