The developed countries are rigid to compensate the climate-vulnerable countries when they are mainly responsible for excessive carbon emission and global warming.

Experts at a seminar held Saturday on “Climate Induced Non-economic Loss & Damage: Evidences from the Ground”, at the Daily Star center have urged academics and researchers to conduct more studies regarding ground evidences of climate change impact to the country.

The country cannot negotiate for compensation in the global arena if it does not have proper evidences and information.

Mirza Shawkat Ali, director of the Department of Environment and lead negotiator on Loss and Damage said:“Sufficient study and research is needed to place demands in the global platform,” while the developed nations are not ready to compensate the victim countries.

“The government and non-government officials, academics and researchers should collaborate to address the issues,as the root cause of the damage induced by the climate change is unclear to many,”Mirza Shawkat Ali said.

Three ground-evidence based studies on non-economic loss and damage in Bangladesh were presented at the seminar jointly organized by Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD), Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB), Network on Climate Change – Bangladesh (NCC,B), Coastal Development Partnership (CDP) and German non-governmental organisation (NGO) Brot für die Welt.

Studies revealed that among the different types of non-economic losses and damages, loss of life and temporary evacuation are widely reported while health impacts and non-inhabitability are exceptional. However, long-term displacement, cultural loss, mental trauma, loss of indigenous knowledge, loss of identity, biodiversity, and common property resources remain widely unreported, the studies said.

The participant experts, researchers and relevant stakeholders took part in an open discussion while Former Director General (DG) of the Department of Disaster Management (DDM)Mohammad Abdul Wazed, International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) Director Dr Saleemul Huq,CPRD Chief Executive Md Shamsuddoha, CDP Executive Director Syed Jahangir Hasan Masum spoke on different aspects of the issue.

According to former DDM DG Wazed, “Non-economic losses and damages associated with climate change significantly interrupt livelihood and human emotions, increasing stress.”

ICCCAD Director Dr Saleemul said,“Since the developed countries appear not to compensate, a global fund source should be created, where the fossil fuel companies of those countries should finance.

“We should push the governments of the responsible countries to impose tax on the profit making fossil fuel companies creating fund in an innovative way. Besides, tax can be imposed on international air passengers, as air travel also contributes to global warming,” he said.

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies’ (BIDS) Distinguished Fellow Dr M Asaduzzaman, also the moderator of the program, said that the governments appear to be less concerned about the climate change in the country.

“The policy makers of the government are less enthusiastic in this regard, but are eager to invest the money that comes from funds without knowing the proper area of investment,” he said.