UN Chief urges world leaders to establish climate fund in Durban

UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon has urged the world’s leaders to help protect the regions most susceptible to climate change by establishing the multi-billion dollar ‘Green Climate Fund’.

Speaking at the annual Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka, the UN Secretary told representatives from over 30 countries that even the global economic crisis should not deter immediate action. The ‘Green Climate Fund’ would see $100 billion earmarked annually to those affected by factors of a direct consequence of climate change.

“Governments must find ways - now - to mobilise resources up to the $100 billion per annum as pledged. The fund needs to be launched in Durban. An empty shell is not sufficient. Even in this difficult time we cannot afford the delay,” he said.

By bringing together those countries most at risk from the effects of global warming at the CVF, it is hoped that a successful funding design can be drafted in preparation for the start of the UN-sponsored climate talks in Durban in a fortnight’s time.

With increasing numbers being directly affected by adverse weather conditions, rising sea levels and other factors caused by global warming, the UN Secretary General stressed the importance of funding declaring that “it is an imperative which we have to do in all the circumstances. We cannot ask the poorest and the most vulnerable to share the brunt of this impact.”

The CVF culminated in the adoption of a 14-point Dhaka Ministerial Declaration signed by all member nations of the CVF. The declaration, read out by the Bangladeshi State minister for environment and forests Hasan Mahmud, will see each CVF nation unite to mitigate the causes, consequences and collateral effects of climate change. The members also agreed to do everything in their power to reduce their own carbon footprints to heap further pressure on developed nations.

In a plea to developed nations, Mahmud echoed the UN Secretary Generals’ call for the foundations to be laid in Durban for the ‘Green Climate Fund’. “Bangladesh needs US$10 billion to meet the damages of climate change, while we've so far signed agreement to get US$125 million as assistance. We've been assured to be given maximum US$100 million.”

According to experts, a one metre rise in sea levels would result in over 15 percent of Bangladesh being under water. Consequently millions of the country’s coastal inhabitants would effectively be climate refugees. “Climate change has been seriously affecting us. We are bearing the brunt of the damage though we made negligible or no contribution to the menace,” the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, told BD News 24. “This constitutes a serious injustice and must be acknowledged by the global community.”

 

 

Image 01: dougsyme | Flickr

image 02: VOA | Wikimedia Commons