Brussels, 08/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - Visiting Bangladesh as part of a preparatory mission for the next international climate negotiations, a delegation of the European Parliament temporary committee on climate (EUROPE 9596) was able to observe on 6-7 February the impact which climate change is already having on the coastal areas of Dhaka, which have been devastated by floods, and the urgent need for industrialised countries to realise the commitment they have made to help developing countries to adapt to global warming.
MEP Romana Jordan Cizelj (EPP-ED, Slovenia), who led the delegation, pointed out that at the UN conference in Bali in December, industrialised countries and developing countries committed to act to alleviate climate change. Since alleviating and adapting to climate change are “priorities and items on the global agenda”, she is calling on the EU to make them priorities of the EU's development policy.
Summarising the mission's conclusions, Ms Jordan Cizelj said: “Bangladesh is one of the developing countries in which climate change could have implications for development. We are aware that a large number of people in this country are threatened by both climate change and poverty. The day after our visit to the districts of Sirajganj and Khokshabari, it is clear that we must act urgently to help this country address the inevitable effects of climate change”. After talks with the foreign affairs adviser, the environment and forests minister and representatives of the districts visited, the MEP came away with “urgent appeals for financial assistance, technological cooperation and technology transfers”. (A.N.)