Pre-COP29 Sharing Meeting
Date: 07 Nov, 2024
Venue: Khulna
The Pre-COP29 Sharing Meeting, held on November 7, 2024, at Hotel Western Inn in Khulna, was a collaborative effort by An Organization for Socio-Economic Development (AOSED) and the Climate Justice Forum (CJF) to discuss the role of Bangladeshi civil society, particularly in the Khulna region, in the upcoming COP29. The meeting, chaired by Prof. Dr. Mujibor Rahman, Head of the Environmental Science Discipline at Khulna University, and moderated by Dr. S.M. Ferdous, Member Secretary of CJF-Khulna, provided a platform for local stakeholders to align their concerns with national climate agendas.
Shamim Arfeen, Executive Director of AOSED, opened the session by sharing the primary goals of the meeting. He emphasized the need for Bangladesh’s civil society to be active in the COP process, ensuring that local perspectives and issues, particularly those from vulnerable coastal communities, are represented in global climate negotiations. This was followed by a detailed presentation by Meer Rifath Jahan Usha, Joint Secretary of the Climate Justice Forum. Usha covered the history of COP, its foundational objectives, and the diverse stakeholders involved, including parties, observers, UNFCCC bodies, and financial organizations. She also highlighted significant milestones achieved from COP1 to COP28, providing context for the discussions.
During the open discussion, participants emphasized the need to align grassroots demands with national negotiation priorities. They discussed the importance of securing a fair share of climate finance for marginalized communities, especially in regions highly susceptible to climate impacts. The group agreed that daily updates from COP29 should be communicated to local and national media, raising awareness of developments that may impact Bangladeshi communities. Further discussions focused on the necessity for evidence-based demands, particularly relating to the effects of climate change-induced phenomena like cyclones, droughts, and salinity intrusion. Attendees called for comprehensive vulnerability assessments to better understand these impacts and advocated for increased climate funding directed toward grassroots organizations. Other points included the need to assess the effectiveness of Green Climate Fund initiatives in Bangladesh’s coastal areas and to find ways to reduce man-made contributors to climate change at a local level.
To ensure ongoing engagement, the meeting concluded with two key initiatives. On November 16, 2024, at 11 PM, a human chain demonstration will be held at Shib Bari Circle in Khulna, led by CJF with technical support from AOSED. Additionally, Bangladesh’s position papers for COP29 will be shared with forum members, fostering a more informed and cohesive approach to climate advocacy.
The meeting underscored the determination of Khulna’s civil society to amplify local voices in the global climate dialogue, ensuring that the unique challenges faced by Bangladeshi communities are integral to the COP29 agenda
