Role of governance in mitigating the effects of climate change
Bangladesh is regarded globally as one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change impacts. There are a number of global assessments on vulnerability, and in each of them, Bangladesh figures within the 10 most vulnerable countries. On average we lose from 0.5 percent to 1 percent of our GDP each year from climate disasters. Obviously, strengthening adaptive capacity of all institutions and individuals in Bangladesh is an urgent need for our sustainable development. However, vulnerability is a construct of two factors: location of a country or region and their socio-economic parameters. The former is given, which cannot be changed, but the latter is what we can shape. It is recognised that from the climate point of view, Bangladesh is located at a disadvantaged position—we are kind of sandwitched between the Himalayas in the North and the Bay of Bengal in the South. So, all the flood or rain waters from the North must flow across our chest. Moreover, we face the challenge of sea level rise, storms, tidal surges and floods from the southern coastal belt. This is the reason why Bangladesh has historically been a disaster-prone country. This predicament has also taught us how live with such climate disasters. Therefore, the most important factor for us to mitigate such increasing impacts of climate change is to strengthen our adaptive capacity (of the whole system)—all individuals, organisations and the country as a whole, with a "whole of society" approach. And the basic elements of adaptive capacity are early warning systems, income and education levels of citizens, their awareness, access to resources by communities, disaster risk reduction, equitable development, empowerment of women and communities, etc. All these elements come as part under the broader rubric of governance. Obviously, governance is extremely important for countries like Bangladesh, which is extremely disaster-prone, populous and natural resource-poor. So, in the context of adaptation, the most important element is whether all the stakeholders including the communities have adequate role in addressing the impacts of climate change that wreak havoc to their lives and whether the process is done with accountability and transparency.
India targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, says Modi
India’s economy will become carbon neutral by the year 2070, the country’s prime minster has announced at the COP26 climate crisis summit in Glasgow. The target date is two decades beyond what scientists say is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts. India is the last of the world’s major carbon polluters to announce a net-zero target, with China saying it would reach that goal in 2060, and the United States and the European Union aiming for 2050.
COP26: What climate summit means for one woman in Bangladesh
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Why China's climate policy matters to us all
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Deliver on promises, developing world tells rich at climate talks
A crucial U.N. conference heard calls on its first day for the world's major economies to keep their promises of financial help to address the climate crisis, while big polluters India and Brazil made new commitments to cut emissions. World leaders, environmental experts and activists all pleaded for decisive action to halt the global warming which threatens the future of the planet at the start of the two-week COP26 summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Monday. The task facing negotiators was made even more daunting by the failure of the Group of 20 major industrial nations to agree ambitious new commitments at the weekend.