Bangladesh’s achievements and expectations from the UNFCCC Climate Change Negotiations (COP)

Tarafder Md. Arifur Rahman
Senior Research Associate
Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad

BACKGROUND
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC) is an international environmental treaty negotiated at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), informally known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992. The objective of the treaty is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system- commonly believed to be around 2°C above the pre-industrial global average temperature.

The UNFCCC was opened for signature on May 9, 1992 after an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee produced the text of the Framework Convention as a report following its meeting in New York. Countries who sign up to the UNFCCC are known as ‘Parties’. As of March 2014, UNFCCC has 196 parties. Since the UNFCCC entered into force, the parties have been meeting annually in Conferences of the Parties (COP) to assess progress in dealing with climate change. The parties to the convention have met annually from 1995 in COP to assess progress in dealing with climate change.

From 2005 the Conferences have also served as the Meetings of Parties of the Kyoto Protocol (MOP). Also parties to the Convention that are not parties to the Protocol can participate in Protocol-related meetings as observers. The first conference was held in 1995 in Berlin, while the 2012 conference was held in Doha. On November 11-22, 2013, COP-19 was held in Warsaw, Poland.

A key element of the UNFCCC is that parties should act to protect the climate system “on the basis of equality and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.” The principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibility’ includes two fundamental elements. The first is the common responsibility of Parties to protect the environment, or parts of it, at the national, regional and global levels. The second is the need to take into account the different circumstances, particularly each Party’s contribution to the problem and its ability to prevent, reduce and control the threat.
Another element underpinning the UNFCCC is the polluter pays principle. This means that the party responsible for producing pollution is responsible for paying for the damage done to the natural environment.
PREVIOUS UNFCC NEGOTIATIONS AND MAJOR OUTCOMES
The Climate Change negotiation process is a difficult and intensive process. So far the Conference of Parties has taken place. While early on the Kyoto Protocol was moved and adopted, it took quite a few years to be operational. On the other hand, there had been rather slow progress until Bali COP 13 (for major highlights of the knowledge generation and negotiations process see Annex 4). COP 15 in Copenhagen was expected to produce substantial progress. It did in a way but also proved to be rather divisive. Cancun COP 16 was the occasion for putting it on track while there appear to be substantial progress in matters related to finance and technology transfer. The COP 17 meetings resulted the establishment of a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, a decision on long-term cooperative action under the Convention, the launch of a new process towards an agreed outcome with legal force applicable to all parties to the Convention, and the operationalization of the Green Climate Fund. The COP 18 resulted in a package of decisions, referred to as the “Doha Climate Gateway.” Key elements of the Doha outcome also included agreement to consider loss and damage : such as an institutional mechanism to address loss and damage in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

NATIONAL RESPONSE OF BANGLADESH
Bangladesh has been taking part vigorously in climate change negotiations since the first Conference of Parties. As discussed above in this chapter, progress so far had been somewhat limited and little headway has been made regarding mitigation. This does not mean, however, that Bangladesh had been doing nothing. It had been preparing itself over time in terms of generation of knowledge, been trying to devise action plans as well as take institutional measures to increasingly integrate climate change issues into mainstream planning and development process.

Bangladesh conducted several major studies in the past related to adaptation, vulnerability and mitigation including one of the first energy modeling exercises for raising energy efficiency. It has taken part early on in some of the major global initiatives for LDCs, namely National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) in 2005.

Subsequently, spurred by the Bali Action Plan, Bangladesh first prepared its Bali submission which together with the experience of NAPA ultimately evolved into the Bangladesh prepared a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) in 2008 which was subsequently revised in 2009 and received full political backing of the Government of its approval and setting up of a dedicated domestic fund for its implementation. The Thrust of the BCCSAP is on sustainable development, poverty reduction and increased well-being of all vulnerable groups in the society.

BANGLADESH POSITION IN CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATION

A. Shared Vision

In line with LDC position, Bangladesh in principle supports 45% emission reduction by 2020 and 85-95% by 2050 by Annex I Parties as well as the emission peaking by 2015. Under the shared vision, Bangladesh has always insisted that the particular vulnerabilities of the LDCs should be recognized; and has emphasized the right to survival as well as that of ensuring sustainable development of the most vulnerable countries.

B. Mitigation by the Annex I

Bangladesh calls for in association with other developing countries groups in general and LDCs and SIDs in particular to achieve the following mitigation targets for the future climate change scenario, such as GHG emission reductions by Annex-1 countries by 45% by 2020 and 90-95% by 2050 compared to 1990, keeping temperature rise within well below 20 C, preferably 1.50 C and keeping GHG concentration in the atmosphere below or at 350 PPM by 2100.

C. Position on REDD+

In accordance with the implementation of Bali Action Plan and Copenhagen Accord, Bangladesh share a strong commitment to an effective outcome on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developing countries (REDD) + at the Durban meeting of COP17. In the Cancun agreement as well the Durban negotiation, some positive outcomes were achieved.

D. Position on Enhanced Action on Adaptation

Bangladesh has been involved in the Cartagena Group where it has presented its views on the Adaptation Framework. These and other related issues are presented here. Three questions have been raised by way of introduction to the issues under Adaptation: a. How can the Adaptation Framework and Work Programme best deliver results for vulnerable countries?, b. What should be the primary focus of Adaptation Committee and how will it promote synergies between technology and other mechanisms?, c. How do we move forward on the question of loss and damage?

SUMMARY OF MAJOR OUTCOMES OF COP19 AND BANGLADESH’S POSITION
The Warsaw Climate Change Conference included 19th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 19), 9th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 9), 39th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 39), 39th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 39), and 3rd part of the second session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP 2). The conference drew over 8,300 participants, including 4,022 government officials, 3,695 representatives of UN bodies and agencies, intergovernmental organizations and civil society organizations, and 658 members of the media.

In the Warsaw conference Bangladesh, Kenya and others called for a global adaptation goal determined by estimating adaptation needs according to emission scenarios whereas Australia, Norway, the Republic of Korea and the US stressed the technical difficulty of aggregating adaptation to a quantified global goal, with the US adding that setting such a goal could be counter-productive. Many developing countries including Bangladesh called for a new, additional and scaled up finance. They also demanded for MRV (Measurement, Reporting and Verification) of support, a finance chapter in the 2015 agreement with the same legal force as the agreement’s other elements, aggregate and individual targets for developed countries’ financial commitments and a finance roadmap.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN COP 19
In loss and damage, COP 19 established the Warsaw international mechanism for loss and damage under the Cancun Adaptation Framework, subject to review by COP 22, including on “its structure, mandate and effectiveness,” to address loss and damage associated with extreme weather and slow onset events. This international mechanism will facilitate all kind of support of actions to address loss and damage. An executive committee of the Warsaw international mechanism has also been established which will function, and be accountable to the COP. For long term finance, developed countries jointly would mobilize US$100 billion annually by 2020 in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency of implementation, and the importance of providing clarity on the level of financial support he added.
COP 19 stressed the need for full operationalization of the GCF. All the participants urged that the Board would finalize the essential requirements relating to managing financial resources and calls for ambitious and timely contributions by developed countries to enable the GCF to prepare the initial resource mobilization by COP 20.

WAY FORWARD a. To the Global Context
Global climate debate now in critical juncture although of multilateral regime is still functioning. Although there are progresses in every COP but our expectation is much higher. Bangladesh should implement adaptation programmes with assistance from its development partners through bilateral agreement. At the same time it would continue to play a leading role at the negotiation during the global climate conference. Other recommendations are: ← Bangladesh should perform key roles in all areas of negotiation particularly in ADP

← Bangladesh is already working in different committees under UNFCCC. We should maintain our presence with quality and diligence

← National Implementing Entity (NIE) should be established immediately to get direct access of fund from multilateral sources

← Bangladesh should prepare NAPs, NAMA and REDD-plus documents immediately to get access of UNFCCC funding

← Bangladesh could take the lead to frame the international mechanism of loss and damage as presence of Bangladesh is visible in the field of loss and damage

b. To the National Context

Bangladesh is intensive involve with the global negotiation process which has been recognized globally. At the same time we should take some initiatives nationally for maintaining the ecological balance of our country.

• Establishment of industries in the ecological zones should be stop

• Water reservoirs needs to be built to face the drought

• Social forestation programme needs to be intensified and people should e motivated not to cut down trees even during political crises.

• The changing climate conditions have a significantly negative impact on agricultural production; it threatens production stability and productivity. Food security of Bangladesh significantly depends on rice. The per capita current consumption of rice in Bangladesh is 162.3 kg per year. As the population continues to grow in Bangladesh, a huge pressure is being built to ensure the provision of an adequate supply of food. Now the annual population growth rate is 1.34 percent per year (BBS, 2011). If it goes like that 70 million populations may face rice shortage in 2050. So, we have to take special measures to check the population growth. Early marriage of girls should be stopped strictly.

• Waste management system should be improved

• Because of the sea level rise 9% land of Bangladesh has been affected by salinity. Rivers are polluted by the industrial waste; as per the Environmental ministry information every day 22,000 liters of waste water is going to rivers without treatment. If it is allow to go like that after some years Bangladesh will face shortage of drinking water. The water of the river Buriganga has already became unable to treatment and Dhaka WASA has stopped to use that water for supplying in Dhaka city. Immediate measures needs to be taken to stop the pollution of river water.