Learning from the Government of the Most Vulnerable Country
Not only the initiatives, approaches, and mechanisms of civil society organizations were useful for me to upscale community based adaptation to climate change in the fifth International conference on Community Based Adaptation to Climate Change in Dhaka, Bangladesh. But also the initiatives taken by the Government of Bangladesh to respond to climate change were noteworthy to me.
I, from the citizen of the country, where change in government and its higher officials are a common phenomenon to slow down the movement of government at national and international level on climate change issue, learn the importance of governmental response for reaching up and drawing down the information and resources in climate change issues.
Though there may be some issues that the Government of Bangladesh has also missed its connection for right judgment and consultation (for example the case of Piloting Program on Climate Resilience “PPCR”), there are some key initiatives that the developing and least developed nations must learn in climate change from Bangladesh. Especially, the voice of Bangladeshi Government in the international negotiation is commendable. I salute to the minister and representative of the respective focal ministry on climate change, Ministry of Environment and Forest, for their initiatives and progress despite the less attention of Developed Nations to implement their financial commitments.
The Bangladeshi Government prepared its National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) in November 2005 through a consultative process and identified 15 priority projects among the list of 60 identified projects in six thematic sectors. Later in 2009, NAPA has been updated with 45 adaptation priorities with the Community Based Coastal Afforestation Project being the first project implemented under NAPA.
Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) prepared in 2009, with 6 thematic areas and 4 programme areas, is the basis for climate change work in the country, which has calculated the total 5 billion USD to implement the strategy and action plan. In order to prioritize climate change and implement urgent and immediate priorities, there are Climate Change Cells in different ministries that are coordinated by National Steering Committee, chaired by Minister of Environment and Forest, which report to National Environment Committee, chaired by Prime Minister of the Government of Bangladesh.
As we know the cost of adaptation and mitigation is huge. Like other developing countries, Bangladeshi Government has also realized inadequate financial flow from developed nations to the developing nations. Contrary to other nations, it has established a self sustaining and self responding mechanisms for climate change adaptation.
In order to respond this crisis, it has established Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) in 2009/2010 with a initial fund of 100 million USD. The government has allocated 100 million USD to the BCCTF for the year 2010/11. Under this trust fund, 45 projects (6 billion Taka, local currency) through government and 53 projects (230 million Taka) through NGOs have been implemented on the ground. In addition to the government’s fund, other development partners have also supported Bangladesh through Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund (BCCRF) with the money amounting to 113 million USD. The funds under these mechanisms are administered under the guidelines of Climate Change Trust Act 2010.
With such innovations, the government is looking forward for fast tract finance and is optimistic with the progress made in Cancun, the Conference of Parties 16th meeting. Especially, the Cancun Adaptation Framework and The Green Climate Fund are hopes for the Government of Bangladesh and so is for the least developed nations also!
Let us hope there will be fast start finance in climate change adaptation under UNFCCC mechanism soon in the future!!!!
I, from the citizen of the country, where change in government and its higher officials are a common phenomenon to slow down the movement of government at national and international level on climate change issue, learn the importance of governmental response for reaching up and drawing down the information and resources in climate change issues.
Though there may be some issues that the Government of Bangladesh has also missed its connection for right judgment and consultation (for example the case of Piloting Program on Climate Resilience “PPCR”), there are some key initiatives that the developing and least developed nations must learn in climate change from Bangladesh. Especially, the voice of Bangladeshi Government in the international negotiation is commendable. I salute to the minister and representative of the respective focal ministry on climate change, Ministry of Environment and Forest, for their initiatives and progress despite the less attention of Developed Nations to implement their financial commitments.
The Bangladeshi Government prepared its National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) in November 2005 through a consultative process and identified 15 priority projects among the list of 60 identified projects in six thematic sectors. Later in 2009, NAPA has been updated with 45 adaptation priorities with the Community Based Coastal Afforestation Project being the first project implemented under NAPA.
Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) prepared in 2009, with 6 thematic areas and 4 programme areas, is the basis for climate change work in the country, which has calculated the total 5 billion USD to implement the strategy and action plan. In order to prioritize climate change and implement urgent and immediate priorities, there are Climate Change Cells in different ministries that are coordinated by National Steering Committee, chaired by Minister of Environment and Forest, which report to National Environment Committee, chaired by Prime Minister of the Government of Bangladesh.
As we know the cost of adaptation and mitigation is huge. Like other developing countries, Bangladeshi Government has also realized inadequate financial flow from developed nations to the developing nations. Contrary to other nations, it has established a self sustaining and self responding mechanisms for climate change adaptation.
In order to respond this crisis, it has established Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) in 2009/2010 with a initial fund of 100 million USD. The government has allocated 100 million USD to the BCCTF for the year 2010/11. Under this trust fund, 45 projects (6 billion Taka, local currency) through government and 53 projects (230 million Taka) through NGOs have been implemented on the ground. In addition to the government’s fund, other development partners have also supported Bangladesh through Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund (BCCRF) with the money amounting to 113 million USD. The funds under these mechanisms are administered under the guidelines of Climate Change Trust Act 2010.
With such innovations, the government is looking forward for fast tract finance and is optimistic with the progress made in Cancun, the Conference of Parties 16th meeting. Especially, the Cancun Adaptation Framework and The Green Climate Fund are hopes for the Government of Bangladesh and so is for the least developed nations also!
Let us hope there will be fast start finance in climate change adaptation under UNFCCC mechanism soon in the future!!!!
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