(Dec.08,2009): Bangladesh is entitled to ask for at least 15 percent of any climate
adaptation fund that may be pledged by developed countries at climate talks in Copenhagen,
Denmark, the state minister for the environment said on Tuesday. "We are the most
vulnerable country to climate change and the world has already recognised that we
need assistance for adaptation," Hasan Mahmud Khondoker told a news conference. He
said at least 20 million Bangladeshis, of a total population about 150 million, would
be displaced, if sea levels rose by one metre. Many more would be affected, if glaciers
on the Himalayas melted due to global warming, he added. Bangladesh has said that
during the Copenhagen meeting, it would demand that the 29 developed countries mostly
responsible for greenhouse gas emissions contribute 1.5 per cent of their GDP to a
climate adaptation fund. Officials say this could generate up to $600 billion to adapt
to changes. Another key demand of Bangladesh at the conference would be easy transfer
of technology from the developed countries to those most vulnerable. "We are not begging
any mercy from anyone. Rather we want justice as the worst victim of climate change,"
said Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, a leading economist, who is also part of Bangladesh
negotiation team.