Bangladesh proposes changing ‘climate migrant’ definition as per UN guideline

Bangladesh, being one of the worst sufferers of global warming, urged the global leaders to change the definition of “climate migrants and refugees” in line with the UN guideline to protect climate victims.  

“The issue is now so real that Bangladesh urgently urges the world community to change the definition of climate migrants and refugees to bring it in line with the UN definition of Migrants and Refugees,” foreign minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said in Turkey, according to a message received on Saturday.  

The foreign minister was speaking at the first panel discussion of the 3rd Antaliya Diplomacy Forum held in Antaly on global climate change, climate migrants, and climate refugees issues.

Moderated by Lawrence Anderson, an academic and fellow of the Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore, the discussion under the title “Building Asia-Pacific Regional Architecture: The Challenge of Unmatching Interests” was also addressed by foreign ministers of Malaysia, the state minister for foreign affairs of Sri Lanka, and the deputy minister for foreign affairs of Vietnam.

The Bangladesh foreign minister focused on the importance of caring for “the protection of our environment and the adverse effects of global warming” that amongst other negatively contributing factors towards the rise of climate migrants and refugees.

He mentioned that, like many small and island nations, Bangladesh has become one of the worst sufferers of global climate change and global warming.

Hasan Mahmud pointed out that while Bangladesh and many environmental scientists have been focusing on the climate change issue for many years, many world leaders did not believe in it until it became evident to all.  

“Yet the rich countries, the major contributors to global warming, are doing very little to address the issue and protect our environment,” he said. 

Meeting with the Swiss foreign minister:

On the sidelines of the forum, the Bangladesh foreign minister held a bilateral meeting with his Switzerland counterpart Ignazio Cassis.

During the meeting, they discussed issues related to Rohingya repatriation and climate change, apart from matters related to bilateral ties.   

Bangladesh ambassador to Turkey M Amanul Haque was present.