Civil Society Unites at COP28CSO urges global commitment to 1.5°C target and compensation for most vulnerable countries

During the ongoing COP28 Global Climate Conference in Dubai, leaders of Civil Society from Most Vulnerable Countries (MVCs) convened a press conference, demanding the commitment to keep global temperature rise under 1.5°C and lessening the damage caused by climate change, especially in the most vulnerable countries.

The press conference, titled “Civil Society Demands on Keeping the commitment of Global Temperature to 1.5°C and Demanding Compensation to the MVCs” took place at the COP28 climate conference center in Dubai, organized by AOSED.

Representatives from various national and international Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) including Dr. Emad Adly (RAED), Jahangir Hasan Masum (CDP), Mohammad Zobair Hasan (DORP), and Jocelyn Perry (Refugees International).

The keynote address was presented by Shamim Arfeen, Executive Director of AOSED, Bangladesh.

The press conference was moderated by Syed Aminul Hoque from COAST Foundation.

In the keynote presentation, Mr. Arfeen has welcomed everyone on the occasion of International Human Rights Day on 10 December.

He stressed the critical need for global cooperation in addressing the challenge of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, particularly in vulnerable nations. Despite the commitments made in the 2015 Paris Agreement, these nations continue to face severe impacts such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events.

The keynote highlighted the responsibility of developed nations to support vulnerable countries through financial assistance, technology sharing, and capacity building, emphasizing the promise made in the Paris Agreement to provide $100 billion annually for climate action in developing countries and ensure human rights.

The demands presented in the keynote included calls for developed nations to commit to a transparent roadmap aligned with the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR&RC), accelerate discussions on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), urgently increase Adaptation Funds, advocate for a new Collective and Quantified Goal on Climate Finance, implement the Global Decarbonization Accelerator, and establish measures for displacement management from a human rights perspective.

Dr. Emad Adly opine that finance doesn’t reflect the minimum requirements. So we have to support the development agencies to build their capacity to implement their interventions in a more effective way.

Jahangir Hasan Masum expressed that developed countries should consider the investment or insurance for securing the future of climate vulnerable country’s people and climate finance should be considered from human rights perspective.

He also opined that there is a clear cut lack of political commitment in UNFCCC negotiations.

Mohammad Zobair Hasan said that safe water and sanitation should be one of the key attentions in COP28 as it is one of the human rights as declared by the UN in 2010. There is sufficient funds but it’s not reaching to the affected community as well as excluded.

He emphasized on ensuring the transparency and accountability of the fund mobilization.

Jocelyn Perry in her statement said that displacement is often sidelined which is increasing the vulnerability of the people who are already displaced or in the verge of getting displaced.

She said that displacement issue needs special attention.