Climate Action Day Observed

“Change Behavior Not Climate”



Climate Action Day observed

Drawing attention on the need to reduce carbon in the atmosphere to a scientifically determined safe level of 350 ppm, the International Day of Climate Action was observed in the country yesterday.

Different social and environmental organisations held different programmes in the city and across the country to mark the day.

With the slogan of "Change Behavior, Not Climate," Work for a Better Bangladesh (WBB Trust) organised a colourful rally from National Museum to TSC of Dhaka University with participation of a large number of children from different parts of the city.

Prottyasa Madok Birodhi Sangathan, Nirapad Development Foundation, Nature Loving People (NLP), Green Voice, Swabhumi, Safe Bangladesh, and other environmental organisations, participated the rally with banners and festoons inscribed different slogans including 'Save the balance of climate and save the environment' and 'Save the coastal people'.

The rally was addressed, among others, by Ibnul Syed Rana, chairman of Nirapad Development Foundation, Syed Saiful Alam Suvan, programme officer of WBB Trust, Humaoun Kabir Somuon, Syeda Ananya Rahman, Mohammad Alamgir and Maruf Ahmed.

The speakers said that the temperatures are rising and storms are worsening due to the whimsical behaviour of human beings. Ice is melting and sea levels are rising day by day and due to the reason Bangladesh is likely to go underwater within a short peroiod, As a result, a large number of coastal people of the country will be homeless, they added.

They also said that the climate changes are going to worsen because people are burning fossil fuels - diesel, petrol, natural gas and coal - at rapid rates. So the future generations are now under threat.

They stressed on the importance of changing behaviour to balance the climate to raise attention to the 350 ppm target for reducing climate change
“Change Behavior Not Climate”

Parliament Members form human chain against global warming

Parliament Members Forum formed a human chain in Kuakata sea beach on december 09 to build awareness about climate change impacts

With the call to reduce carbon in the atmosphere to a scientifically determined safe level of 350 ppm and demanding compensation from industrial countries for being responsible for global warming, a human chain was formed at Kuakata sea beach yesterday.

Organised by Parliament Members' Forum on Climate Change (PMFCC), lawmakers Ruhul Amin Hawlader, Direndra Nath Sambhu, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Talukder Md Yunus, Narayan Chandra Chanda and Abdullah Al Islam Jakob and different upozila chairmen-vice chairmen and municipality mayors of coastal area, addressed the human chain, among others.

The speakers said that climate changes are going to worsen and the future generations are now under threat. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries due to impact of climate change, they added.

They also said that the temperatures are rising and storms are worsening due to the whimsical behaviour of human beings. Ice is melting and sea levels are rising day by day and due to this reason Bangladesh is likely to go underwater within a short period. As a result, a large number of coastal people of the country will be homeless, they added.

They stressed on the importance of changing the behaviour of the responsible countries for reducing climate change.

PMFCC Convener and whip of Parliament ASM Firoz MP presided over the programme while it was attended, among others, by chairman of Save the Environment Movement Abu Naser Khan, Kazi Enayet Hossain, Rajib Parvez and Syed Saiful Alam.

“Change Behavior Not Climate”

Lawmakers form action group on climate change

Lawmakers form action group on climate change

Lawmakers from coastal constituencies formed "Bangladesh Climate Change Action Group" yesterday in a move to address the adverse impact of climate change.

"People in the coastal areas are bearing the brunt of natural disasters that prompted us to form the forum in the face of the inevitable consequences of climate change," said ASM Firoz, whip of parliament and an elected member from Patuakhali.

Firoz has been selected as convener of the forum. The group is expected to have around 50 members, all elected from the southern region.
The forum was formed at a discussion on Climate Change: Adverse Effect on Bangladesh and Our Action held at the Parliament Members' Club in the city.

Firoz said that they would appoint a spokesman for the forum to make their voices heard in local and international conferences on climate change.

"We must develop awareness among the coastal people, so they would be prepared to address the challenges," he said. He urged experts and NGO representatives to work in collaboration with the government organisations and representatives to design the course of actions, which will minimise effects of the climate change on people.

Speaking at the discussion meeting, Ruhul Amin Hawlader, secretary general of Jatiya Party, asked the government to take necessary steps to secure sufficient amount of money from international communities to meet the challenges.

Due to climate change, fertility of soil and river fishes in coastal areas are reducing alarmingly day by day, claimed Golam Maula Rony, elected form Patuakhali-3. "Reduced capability of both land and water in production is severely affecting economical aspects of the people in coastal areas. Besides, we are facing continuous natural disasters. Only concerted efforts can alleviate the sufferings of the people," he said.
Mizan R Khan, professor of the department of Environmental Science and Management, North South University, presented a keynote paper at the meeting.

He said that if the sea level of the Bay of Bengal rises for 1 mitre, the government would have to evacuate at least 3 crore people from the coastal areas.

"Keeping this cautionary message in mind, the government should design the next course of plan," he added.

Mahbubur Rahman, state minister for water resources, lawmakers Narayan Chandra Chanda, principal Shorab Hossain, advocate Afzal Hossain, BH Harun, MA Zabbar and representatives of different NGOs including WBB Trust, Grambangla Unnayan Committee and Save the Coastal People (SCOPE), among others, were present at the discussion meeting.

A meeting will be held on September 10 to fix a date for the final meeting to discuss the structure and other aspects related to the forum.

“Change Behavior Not Climate”.

Bangladeshis rally for “Change Behavior Not Climate”

All over Bangladesh today people organized events to raise attention to the need to reduce carbon in the atmosphere to a scientifically-determined safer level of 350 ppm. Activists also stressed the importance of citizens making change, as a parallel movement to government action, with the banner “Change Behavior Not Climate”.