The Bangladesh delegation has urged for adopting the principle of "Do No Harm" at the ongoing climate talks in Poland.
The delegation argued for a Global and a Regional Adaptation framework to include a conflict resolution mechanism so that one country's gain is not at the expense of the other.
Dr Aparup Chowdhury, Additional Secretary of the ministry of environment and forests told bdnews24.com, Bangladesh stressed that some kind adaptation to climate change impact is taking place in many developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) as well.
“Many countries have also initiated adaptation process. But in the most of cases, these activities are piecemeal, adhoc or may even be at cross purposes. The risk of mal adaptation in such a situation is very real.”
He said: “What we need is a comprehensive, sectorally balanced approach which is well-integrated within the development process fostering sustainable development as well as reduction of poverty. Adaptation will have to be climate smart sustainable development.”
According to the statement, Bangladesh stressed on the adaptation process that must be dynamic and long term with built-in flexibility to withstand new type or intensified vulnerability given the uncertainties regarding aggregate mitigation ambition of Parties. Some of the critical types of adaptation such as those related to shared water resources can only be fruitfully undertaken within a regional framework.
It says the 2015 Agreement has to recognise the long term dynamic nature of adaptation, must call for adaptation to be based on real life observations, monitoring and analyses of vulnerabilities with adequate and predictable financial support and technology transfer from developed countries.
It wants the agreement to place adaptation within such a regional work plan with a provision for periodic review and updating of the NAP based on new information, and analyses with the NAP itself being embedded within a general development framework.
A global adaptation goal should be the global generation of resources and facilities for adaptation without which adaptation may have only limited or no success. Such global activities are essential for facilitating effective national and community level adaptation.
