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Most human beings are unaware of most of the potential disasters that may wipe out mankind. This is natural because human beings don't think they are responsible for their own actions and consider nature as separate. It's perceived as external.
Thus humans are unable to comprehend complex disasters like climate change caused by their own cumulative actions. Earthquakes, floods, heat waves etc., are much easier to grasp by their simple mind. It's beyond their capacity to understand that those very disasters could be caused by causes more complex than the so-called "natural "causes". The result has been global disregard for the issue of climate change and impending disaster. People don't even know what it is and how it impacts on their life, let alone create political pressures for their collective survival.
Not that it matters as ruling classes everywhere consider themselves immune to the baneful effects of climate change. Thus we have a lot of words, including those churned out at the global level, but not much else. The UN Climate chief has recently said that there are only two years left to take actions before the window for acting against global disaster shuts. One supposes it's time to get ready for the "end of the world" as we know it and which we never expect to happen.
The UN Chief's words are important but reflect the position of leaders who speak without power and represent the ineffectual. Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change has said that the next two years are "essential in saving our planet". Otherwise the climate changes status and future scenario. And he was addressing politicians, business leaders and the rest of those who are supposed to matter unlike the UN.
Scientists say halving climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is crucial to stop a rise in temperatures of more than 1.5 Celsius that would unleash more extreme weather and heat. However, last year, the world's energy-related CO2 emissions increased to a record high. Current commitments to fight climate change would be grossly inadequate to manage global emissions by any count by the critical year of 2030.
All hope is not entirely lost but time has certainly run out. "We still have a chance to make greenhouse gas emissions tumble, with a new generation of national climate plans. But we need these stronger plans, now, "Simon said. So where does the problem lie? It's very simple. Only 20 leading economic powers are responsible for 80 per cent of global emissions and that sort of explains the entire scenario. And they don't have to listen to anyone.
These 20 countries basically run the world and decide what is going to happen and where. These super countries if you will have all the power in the world whether it's the US or China and they are hardly about to think about to back down let alone try to figure out how it's done. It's not about a good state or a bad state but preserving its status and capacity and it doesn't matter how that has to be done.
The UN keeps setting priorities which the world happily ignores. But it's not just bad intentions or selfishness but also inability to know how it's done. Nobody has any practical ideas about how to retain or reach prosperity without increasing carbon gasses and that is driving the reality of global policy application.
Many are asking why the UN's climate change reduction policies aren't working. The UN's principal objective is for its members to agree to a new target for climate finance "to support developing countries struggling to invest in shifting away from fossil fuels and fighting climate change."
The UN says that objectives can be achieved through several means such as debt relief, cheaper financing for economically weaker countries, developing new sources of financing such as tax on emissions reforms of international financial institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
"Every day finance ministers, CEOs, investors, and climate bankers and development bankers direct trillions of dollars. It's time to shift those dollars," said the UN climate change related boss. He has been pushing for reforming capital requirements and expansion of its use of Climate Resilient Debt Clauses, which suspends debt repayments in the event of natural disasters in the WB and the IMF.
So far none have paid much attention and there is no evidence to show that they are likely to listen to the UN soon.
The situation may not be particularly different at the national level whether Bangladesh or elsewhere. Researchers and activists have pointed out the woefully inadequate management of projects and priorities. Governments are more active at the international level seeking funds which goes to the ministries. But what happens at the operational level is rarely discussed other than blanket statements about "projects completed". Nor does anyone say about the impact of completion.
Once as a media panel member of a major anti-corruption outfit, we saw incredible levels of corruption in this sector. It basically means that projects are funded but they are not really useful except for making a lot of money by some.
However, it bothers none as the powerful behave locally and internationally the same way. As a result the situation has become unchangeable and the damages in many cases irreversible. There is little evidence that the situation is about to change.
Like it or not, we are seeing the same power-gain model at work. The powerful countries ignore the plight of the poorer countries, and in the poorer countries, the top elite ignores the powerless.