Download The Impact of Climate Change on People living in poverty

Draft statement by H.E. Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, Ambassador and Permanent
Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, New York on DPI-NGO Special
event on
‘The Impact of Climate Change on People living in Poverty’
In the observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Salvation Army,221 East 52nd Street, New York,10.15 am-12.15 pm, 29 November
2012
Mr. Moderator, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Poverty continues to remain a critical challenge of our time. According to a recent
World Bank study, the number of poor people is now estimated at 1.4 billion, an
increase of 500 million from earlier estimates of 948 million. Over the years, while
the percentage of people living in extreme poverty continues to decline globally, in
many countries, particularly in the LDCs, the progress is slow and uneven. The
number of people with insufficient access to food has risen. This perennial problem
has been further aggravated by the international financial uncertainty and
instability, soaring food and fuel prices and rapid pace of climate change along
with its phenomenal extreme weather events. According to a recent study, the
current crises will push around 119 million people into extreme poverty by next
year. Climate Change will put extra 50 million people at risk of hunger by 2020.
These have made it even more difficult to reach the MDG target of cutting by half
the proportion of people living in poverty between 1990 and 2015.
The magnitude and complexity of the challenge of poverty calls for a
comprehensive action. We need to better understand the nature and the range of
deep rooted obstacles to sustained and speedy poverty eradication. I thank DPI for
arranging this thought provoking event on the eve of the adoption of four Poverty
related resolutions in the second committee of the 67th UNGA. It has provided us a
big opportunity to reflect some of the issues that need to be reflected in these
resolutions.
We support the recommendation of the Secretary General to develop a
comprehensive and pragmatic plan of action in support of these resolutions,
particularly the implementation of the Second Decade of Poverty Eradication. This
plan of action should include a program of substantive work spanning the
analytical, normative and operational work of the United Nations in the area of
poverty eradication. The Plan should also identify the specific roles and mandates
of different UN agencies. There should also be an annual monitoring mechanism to
review the status of the implementation of the action plan by all stakeholders.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Climate Change is indeed, one of the most serious challenges humanity have ever
faced, it's not because that super storm Sandy caused a $60 billion loss in few
hours. As per Climate Vulnerability Monitor, climate change causes 400,000
deaths each year and climate related losses amounted to $1.2 trillion or 1.6% of the
global GDP in 2010. Such loss is expected to increase rapidly, reaching 6 million
deaths and 3.2% of GDP in net average by 2030 (CVM, 2012). The modest
achievement of developing countries, particularly of LDCs might vanquish in the
blink of eyes by a sweep of cyclone, flood or land erosion. Indeed, many of the
LDCs development budget are now shunted to address the havoc perpetrated by
the erratic climate behavior. Its impact is simply devastating. Many of the IADGs
are now reversed in these countries, while their people are left with hunger,
poverty, unemployment and uncertainty. One such scourge is environmental
refugees, where people are displaced from their own living and livelihood for the
reasons they are not responsible.
Let me share a story with you. I was back home in the north-east region of
Bangladesh and I asked a rickshow-walla (an environmentally safe paddled
vehicle) where is he from. He replied that he is from the southern coastal belt of
Bangladesh. I asked him why did he travelled so far. He replied, due to erosion of
his cultivable land that has been washed away, leaving him no option but to move
to a higher plain with his family for safety and security and now is trying to earn a
living just to survive. He is forced out of his home not because persecution,
repression or civil war but because of erratic climate change. He is not alone. In the
capital city Dhaka of Bangladesh out of its estimated 16 million residents, nearly
1/3rd are just like that, they are floating population---- people forced out of their
own homes, their traditional livelihood and now they are crowding towns and cities
and creating urban slumps mostly due to erratic climate change.
Bangladesh, because of its leadership commitment, sustained efforts, innovative
techniques, targeted approaches, and hard-working dynamic people, it has been
doing very good in terms of achieving MDG goals. It has either achieved or on
tract in achieving most of the MDG goals such as MDG-1 (poverty), MDG-2
(school enrolment), MDG-3 (gender parity), MDG-4 (infant death) and MDG-5
(maternity death) etc. Its poverty rate has reduced from nearly 60% in 1990 to 30%
now and its infant mortality rate has declined by over 67 percent. But it is afraid of
sustainability----- a single devastating cyclone or one meter sea level rise will wash
away its achievements. Bangladesh is a very fertile land and the contribution of its
agriculture sector to its GDP growth rate is very significant. If its crop fields go
under water or salinity makes its land less productive, or if it is forced to divert its
scare resources away from nation building efforts to rehabilitation of climate
refugees or erection of higher embankments, the nation is sure to face enormous
challenges and its hope to eradicate poverty could be eroded. As per estimate,
salinity reduces productivity of rice by 14%, wheat by 45% and maize by 15% and
therefore, unless appropriate efforts are taken to manage climate change, food
deficiency and poverty is difficult to overcome.
Recent World Bank study predicts 1 meter rise in the sea level of Bangladesh and
as per estimate, one meter rise in sea level will inundate 20% of its coastal region
leaving 30 to 40 million people without home, without jobs. Where these people,
the climate migrants should go? They are not being forced out of their homes by
national government, they are being forced to evacuate owing to global warming.
Luckily, we have had a UN resolution during the 4 th UN LDC Conference in
Istanbul where specific rehabilitation measures have been called for these climate
migrants. From this podium, I earnestly request the international community to
immediately come up with a rehabilitation plan for these people in accordance with
the IPoA consensus.
As we are in COP18 in Doha now, it has become incumbent upon the international
community, particularly the developed countries given their historical
responsibility, to address this global challenge within the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol.
The demand should be focused on the urgent establishment of an international
climate change “Fund” and making it immediately operational as agreed to by the
world community at COP-15 in Copenhagen. This is the least, the major emitters
of green house gases responsible for global warming and Climate Change and for
creating a turbulent world of natural disasters, could do. Our hope is that they will
quickly agree on a legally binding agreement with respect to emission cuts also.
Clearly, the contributions of the rich, developed world to the “Fund” would need to
be generous. In all fairness and justice, the “Fund” should be distributed to the
most affected based on per capita basis, and the climate vulnerability index. They
must also be separated from the commitment of 0.7% of the GNI for the
developing countries, and 0.2% of GNI, for the LDCs, which was reaffirmed in the
Brussels Program of Action. They must also agree to free transfer of green
technology to the developing world.
Unless these measures are taken, it would be a difficult to achieve the desirable
goals of MDG by 2015. It may end up in many countries especially in many LDCs
just like the BPoA as an 'unfinished agenda'. These constitute the minimum
support, which the countries involved could give as redemption for their misuse
and abuse of resources, and of course, reckless drive for development which now
threatens the existence of countries like many of ours. Resources and technology
are imperative for adaptation and mitigation programs. Bangladesh has already
adopted a 134-point climate change action plan, most of which face delay in
implementation due to paucity of funds, and unavailability of modern green
technology, in spite of the fact that it created a climate Trust Fund with its own
domestic resource.
Post Rio+ 20 or post 2015-agenda while should focus on social, economic and
environmental sustainability in a holistic manner, it should also focus among
others on the following areas. LDCs should be ensured of universal access to
affordable, reliable energy and related technologies, appropriate investment in
water infrastructure, its management and sanitation, especially in the rural areas,
financial and technical support for the enhancement of food and nutritional security
and provision of high-yielding and climate resilient seed verities and fertilizers as
well as helping combat desertification and land degradation. Likewise, the LDCs
also need investment in infrastructure; food and energy security and support for
sustainable development of forests and mountains and protection of biodiversity,
sustainable use of marine resources, and protection from disasters and vulnerability
of small islands, mountain countries, coastal countries and other vulnerable
countries in the LDCs.
In conclusion, Madam Chair, poverty anywhere is poverty all over. Hence,
eliminating poverty and attaining prosperity is a treasured dream and revered duty
for the humanity. It is a boundless pursuit of justice, equality and fairness.
Together, I have no doubt, we can vanish the poverty in our own generation. We
know 'where there is a will, there is a way'. Therefore, may I look forward to new
impetus in our efforts for a shared goal of having a world free from fear, free from
hunger and deprivation during the second decade of poverty eradication?
May God bless you all, give you strength and motivation to eradicate poverty and
hunger from this planet earth.