Durban not total failure

The Durban climate conference is not a total failure as it extended the Kyoto protocol to a second phase, said Environment and Forests Minister Hasan Mahmud. “We are not happy, but not frustrated either as it saved the Kyoto protocol,” the minister said, adding that Bangladesh expected much more from the conference. Briefing reporters in his ministry, he said the developed nations will cut carbon emission by 25 to 40 percent compared to the level of 1990 during the second commitment period of the protocol. But Japan, Russia and Canada pulled themselves out of the process which is unfortunate, he said. During the conference, an ad-hoc working group on the Durban Platform for Enhance Action was formed. The working group will come up with an outcome of legally binding instrument for all countries, he told reporters. “It will be too late if we have to wait till 2020 to implement the legally binding document and cap the temperature rise within two degree Celsius,” the minister said. The Green Climate Fund was created at the conference to help the vulnerable countries, which is another major achievement of the conference, Hasan said, adding that Bangladesh has got $200 million as fast start funding out of $3 billion raised in the UNFCCC. The minister also reminded the developed nations of their responsibilities for emission cuts as they are fully responsible for global warming. About detailed outcome of the meet, Hasan said, the activities of the ad-hoc working group on long-term cooperation action (AWG-LCA) were increased by the meeting. The AWG-LCA will formulate an outcome to implement the decision of the Bali Action Plan.