Environmentalists call for fossil fuel-free climate justice

Leaders of different environmental and human rights organizations have called for ensuring fossil fuel-free climate justice. 

Addressing a human chain programme in the city, they said, there is no alternative to phase out different types of non-renewable fuels to prevent global warming.

Former adviser to the caretaker government and human rights activist Advocate Sultana Kamal, who inaugurated the event, said due to the non-cooperation of the rich countries, it is not possible to get out of this kind of environmentally destructive activities. 

She urged the world leaders who are going to participate in the upcoming UN General Conference and UNSG Climate Ambition Summit to take effective steps to deal with climate change without limiting it to discussion.

In her idea speech, Sharmin Murshid, executive director of Brotee, demanded realizing compensation from the countries responsible for climate change.

The nationwide programme and the participation of people from various classes and professions in the program are strengthening the demand for freedom from fossil fuel consumption, she observed. 

She expressed her hope that the world leaders will take effective steps to implement the demands.

The human chain was formed as part of the global programme for the realization of the demand. The programme held at in front of Department of Environment at Agargaon also include organising bicycle rallies and subject-wise dumb acting. 

Coast Foundation Director Mustafa Kamal Akand, Safe Development Foundation Chairman Ibnul Sayed Rana, Bangladesh Cycle Lane Implementation Council President Aminul Islam Tubbus, Sundarbans and Coast Protection Movement Central Organizer Moniruzzaman Mukul, Equity BD General Secretary Syed Aminul Haque, Global Law Thinkers Society President Raoman Smita, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Apart from these, different programmes including civic assembly, human chain, cycle rally, boat tying, human chain in the river, football tournament, symbolic cleanliness drive, tree plantation and painting competition for children have also been organized in different parts of the country.

The programmes organized by Waterkeepers Bangladesh, Equity BD, Youth Net for Climate Justice, Center for Participatory Research and Development, Brotee, Global Thinkers Society, Sundarbans and Coast Protection Movement, Safe Development Foundation, and Bangladesh Cycle Lane Implementation Council. 

The Asian Peoples' Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), a regional alliance of peoples' movements, and Asian Energy Network, an alliance of Asian organizations working to end fossil fuels are coordinating different programmes in Asian countries.

The programme titled 'Global Day of Action and Fossil Fuels for Climate Justice' was adopted in view of UNSG Climate Ambition Summit-2023 announced by United Nations General Assembly and United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) in New York, says a press release issued on Saturday.

Meanwhile, a sit-in and human programme was held at Mongla Pasur river in Bagerhat while a football tournament, a cycle rally and a human chain programme were organized at Paikgacha in Khulna. 

Besides, as part of the programme, trees were planted in Satkhira, symbolic cleaning drive and rally were held at Pransayer Canal. A bicycle rally and civic rally were in Khulna, children's drawing competition and human chain were organized in Cox's Bazar. 

Moreover, separate programmes were also held in Jamalpur, Sherpur, Mymensingh, Netrakona, Habiganj, Sylhet, Pirojpur, Gazipur, Panchagarh, Sylhet's Jaintapur and Biswanath, Bogura, Barguna, Kuakata, Taltali, Maheshkhali, Patharghata, Cox's Bazar's Kutubdia and Pekua and Barishal.