BD emerges leader in climate change mitigation: Speakers

DHAKA: Speakers at a seminar categorically said Bangladesh has emerged as great leader of mitigation not as a victim in the sector of climate change mitigation and carbon trading.

They also stressed on the need for establishing effective negotiation by local industries with carbon market and connecting the industries with the carbon trading global business meeting place to develop effective business relation regarding carbon trading for further advancement of the sector.

The seminar titled ‘Climate Change Mitigation and Carbon Trading, jointly organized by the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Center for Sustainable Development (CSD), First Climate (FC) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The seminar was held marking the World Corporate Social Responsibility Day (CSR Day) at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the city Saturday.

Acting Vice Chancellor of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) Professor Imran Rahman, Climate Change Specialist of UNDP Dr Sarwat Chowdhury also spoke at the seminar.

Managing Director of First Climate (Switzerland) AG Alexander Luchinger, Managing Director First Climate (India) Private Ltd, Deputy Director of Center for Sustainable Development (CSD Partha Pratim Chaudhuri and Dr Rathana Peou Van Den Heuvel and Project Manager of Green Brick Project of UNDP Bangladesh Khondker Neaz Rahman presented three different keynotes on the issue at the seminar.

In the seminar Dr Sarwat Chowdhury said carbon mitigation would help local and global economy of the whole world. Bangladesh has already showed a great leadership in calling for their demand in different global seminar.

Alexander Luchinger said, “Carbon trading is a market based mechanism for helping mitigate the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere.”

He added: “Carbon trading markets are developing that brings buyers and sellers of carbon credits together with standardized rules of trade.”

This form of permit trading is a common method countries utilize in order to meet their obligations specified by the Kyoto Protocol; namely the reduction of carbon emissions in an attempt to reduce (mitigate) future climate change, he said.  

BDST: 1725 HRS, FEB 18, 2012