17 November 2012; Khulna, Bangladesh: After huge mobilization in 23 districts all-over Bangladesh by engaging more than 100 organization and 20,000 people, the organizers declared a declaration for climate justice. Full text of the declaration is given bellow:
Declaration
Climate Justice Week 2012
11-17 November
2012, Bangladesh
We, the civil society
organizations, non-government organizations, activist’s organizations and
academia of Bangladesh, following a week long mobilization at 23 districts of
the country, expressing our deep concern on world-leaders’ lack of political will in combating
anthropogenic climate change that already has increased the intensity and
frequency of weather related extreme events and trends and consequently causing
harm to lives and livelihoods of poor and vulnerable people living in developed
and developing countries including the least-developed and small island states.
We are extremely disappointed to see the double standard of world leaders who
are committing to limit the rise of atmospheric temperature well below two
degree Celsius than pre-industrial level and on the contrary pledging very low
level of emission reduction target that will increase atmospheric temperature,
according to United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), from 3.5 to 6 degree
Celsius. This is unacceptable; and they don’t have any mandate to facilitate a
climate catastrophe through their unforgivable inactions. There is another
opportunity before them for taking corrective measures at the upcoming
multilateral climate negotiations happening under United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 26 November to 8 December 2012 at
Doha, Qatar. We urge the world leaders to consider the following element in
Doha outcome:
1. Finalize and adopt a second
commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol involving as many member countries as
possible and to be implemented from 1 January 2013. Mitigation ambition between
now and 2020 must be increased.
2. Kyoto Protocol covers only 10-12%
of world green house gas emissions; which means emission reduction under second
commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol ensures no fundamental change in the
catastrophic climate scenario albeit its continuation is important considering
historical, political and legal perspectives. Following the decision adopted at
Durban Conference of Parties (CoP) of the UNFCCC, all countries will have to
commit ambitious mitigation actions while BASIC Countries (Brazil, South
Africa, India and China) must not hide themselves under the umbrella of ‘G77
and China’ to avoid legally binding mitigation commitment and least-developed
and small island countries will be exempted from such commitment. We urge world
leaders to agree a clear work program at Doha that sets milestones to ensure a
fair and ambitious legally binding agreement to be established by 2015 and
implemented from 2020.
3. Progress made since 2007 must be
part of new legally binding agreement and unresolved issues must be considered
in new work program for discussions and making decisions.
4. Public climate finance must be
increased gradually from 2013 to meet $100 billion commitment per year by 2020.
Developed countries must pledge public funds for a substantial initial
capitalization of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). New and innovative sources of finance
must be explored including maritime and aviation sectors. We urge to ensure peoples participation,
transparency, accountability, equity and justice in all climate fund
management.
5. We urge world leaders to take
actions under ‘Cancun Adaptation
Framework’ by undertaking ‘measures to enhance understanding, coordination and
cooperation with regard to climate change induced displacement, migration and
planned relocation, where appropriate, at the national, regional and
international levels.’
6.
While discussing the
above-mentioned issues the concept of ‘equity’ should be at the heart of the
process. There should be a new consensus on equity. BASIC countries must not
use ‘equity’ to justify their high level of emission; they must not evade their
‘respective capacities’ while referring ‘common but differentiated
responsibilities’ during the negotiations. The new consensus on equity must
ensure justice; and contain various dimensions including intra-national equity,
international equity, inter-generational equity and inter-species equity.
We urge world leaders
to unite as much as possible to achieve an acceptable outcome at Doha. To do
so, if necessary, we urge world leaders to go beyond the traditional political
alliances and form new force to protect the species Homo Sapiens and its
only habitat - planet Earth.
