‘Adequate allocations must be ensured for rural smallholder farmers and community-based agro-ecology for climate and life-friendly food systems’
A Bangladeshi expert on ecology and biodiversity at COP29 has expressed his concern over the unsettled climate fund, adaptation, food system, health and human rights related to climate change.
“There are only two days left for the conference to end. The world leadership has not yet made any clear commitments on financing, funding, adaptation, food systems, health, loss and damage, and human rights,” said Pavel Partha.
Pavel, also the director of Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK), was addressing an event titled “Policy Initiative from Action on Food and Hub Partners” on the sidelines of the UN climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan on Wednesday.
However, it is not enough to just be limited to the declaration of commitments, but to announce the outline and targets for implementing the commitments, he said. “Adequate allocations must be ensured for rural smallholder farmers and community-based agro-ecology for climate and life-friendly food systems.”
The themes of the ninth day at COP29 were urbanisation, transportation and tourism.
Pavel said that just as it is important to build healthy and suitable cities for all, it is also important to ensure climate justice for low-income people in cities.
“Due to climate disasters, a procession of displaced people from villages is entering the city. A city cannot bear the burden of so many people. Therefore, urban and rural development plans must be integrated,” he said.
“People’s work and livelihoods must be ensured in the villages and adequate preparations must be made to cope with the climate shocks there. The rivers, canals, fields, gardens, parks, recreation centers and green areas of the city must be made open and safe for everyone.”
According to him, urban development plans and policies must incorporate climate change, adaptation, and resilience.
It is also important to gradually reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and make the transport system more people-friendly and environmentally friendly, he said.
“In many countries in South Asia, including Bangladesh, tourism has not developed as a livelihood for indigenous and local communities and as an ecosystem-friendly one.”
Warning of plastic and noise pollution in the name of tourism, Pavel said, “It is important to involve the local population and the young generation in environmentally and culturally friendly tourism management.
“Sustainable management of the tourism system must be ensured without damaging the wetlands, forests, agricultural land or ecosystem of any area. Many archaeological and historical sites and structures are being destroyed due to climate change.”
Many ancient monuments and structures, including the Shat Gombuj Mosque in Bagerhat, Kantjiur Temple in Dinajpur, Paharpur Bihar or Mahasthangarh, may be further damaged, the expert fears.
Referring to many structures being destroyed due to climate disasters, he said, “Many monuments in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Feni and Sherpur have been destroyed by floods from hill slopes. To address these damages, everything from climate finance to allocation and management must be ensured.”
