The European Union and Developing countries in Asia agree to work together for stronger climate action.

Representatives of the European Union and of developing countries in Asia agreed to work together to mobilise international support for stronger action on climate change during the Asia Regional Conference of the Global Climate Change Alliance that brought together representatives of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar and Nepal as well as of the EU.   Speaking at theopening the Conference, theHonourable Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, said “As smaller countries we usually, for the sake of a united position, accept what the larger developing countries suggest. But that may not be conducive to our national interests. Now the time has come for us to speak up loud. If we don’t unite and make ourselves heard, the outcome might leave us as the worst victims of climate change.”   The Asia Regional Conference which took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh from the 30 to 31 May 2010, took stock of the various challenges that climate change poses in Asia by looking specifically at the problems faced by the countries in Asia and the strategies and actions they have adopted in response. Also considered in detail at the conference, were the existing financial mechanisms to support climate change strategies and actions, as well as the prospects for reaching an effective global agreement to bring climate change under control.   Honourable Ms. Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action expressed that “I read in the press that the interest for climate change has dropped in many developed countries. That is a pity, as we have not yet solved the problem. And people expect it of us. Ask the women out in a Bangladeshi village, those who constantly need to seek shelter from cyclones. Ask the Bangladeshi farmer whose crops were washed away by floods. Ask anyone who sees the change and faces the consequences. We owe it to them to find a solution.”   In a positive outcome the representatives of Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Maldives and the EU signed a Joint Declaration on 31st May to help the Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in Asia adapt to climate change. The agreement foresees that the EU will provide financial support for national climate change strategies focusing on prevention, mitigation and preparedness.   Background: The Global Climate Change Alliance is an initiative which was launched in 2007 by the European Commission to deepen dialogue and cooperation on climate change between the European Union and developing countries also most vulnerable to climate change. The GCCA Support Facility (GSF) was established in 2009 to implement the GCCA and is a consortium led by MWH, in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research -Climate Change Programme (UNITAR CCP).