Action plan to save 40m coastal people from climate change impact urged
November 7, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Speakers at a seminar Friday called for taking an action plan to save 40 million people of the country’s coastal region from the adverse impact of climate change.
They also underscored the need for incorporating the climate change issue in the curriculum at primary and secondary levels to create awareness of it.
The speakers further urged the least development countries (LDCs) to take a holistic approach to realise compensation from the developed countries, which are mainly responsible for the climate change.
The seminar on ‘Climate Change: Adverse Impact on Bangladesh and Our Steps’ was held at Parliament Members’ Club under the initiative of Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad ASM Feroze, reports BSS.
State Minister for Water Resources Mahbubur Rahman Talukdar, lawmakers ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, Golam Kibria Tipu, Sohrab Ali Sana, Talukdar Mohammad Yunus, Principal Shah Alam, MA Jabbar, Narayan Chandra Chanda, Dr BH Harun and Golam Mawla Roni, Information and Research Secretary of Awami League Advocate Afzal Hossain and Director General of the Department of Environment Jafar Ahmed Khan addressed the seminar chaired by ASM Feroze.
Professor Mizan R Khan of the Department of Environmental Science and Management of North South University presented the keynote paper on ‘Climate Change and Vulnerability of Coastal Bangladesh’.
In his address, the state minister said an action plan is very much needed for survival of the 40 million people of 19 coastal districts of the country from the adverse impact of climate change.
Terming such a seminar as time befitting, he called upon all to create awareness of climate change among the people of the coastal region. “There is no alternative to creating awareness of the issue,” he mentioned.
Mr Howlader urged coastal people to turn the climate change issue into a movement for their survival.
Advocate Afzal Hossain said lawmakers could play an important role in organising the people and they should come forward to build public opinion on climate change.