ay over the coming decades is a low-carbon-climate-resilient pathway (sometimes also referred to as Green Development pathways) and many countries are beginning to develop such nationally driven goals and pathways.
The correct way in which the global goal on SDGS and decisions on climate change should be driven are therefore from a country-led, bottom-up approach from all countries (both rich as well as poor) striving for sustainable development pathways that tackle climate change at the same time at the national level.
Role of Bangladesh and Least developed countries:
Bangladesh has been taking an active part in both sets of discussions both at national as well as global level where it takes part as one of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). This group has a very important role to play in both sets of discussions as they are poorest countries (important for MDGs/SDGs) and also the most vulnerable to adverse impacts of climate change (in the climate change context).
While the voice of the LDC Group has become much stronger in the UNFCCC process over the years(towards which Bangladesh has made a significant contribution) in the SDGs discussions the LDC Group seem to less well organised.
It is important that the LDC Group get its act together (which Bangladesh can help them do) in the SDG discussions and find ways to link the two debates together(at least at the national level) as they are both equally important to the fate of the LDCs, including Bangladesh.
The next two years up to the end of 2015 will be critical in getting global agreement towards either a genuinely sustainable future or else a failure to address the most important issues of this era. Much of the success or failure will depend on how the LDCs (including Bangladesh) are able (or not) to assert their voices and make their arguments not only heard, but actually prevail.
The writer is Director, International Centre for Climate Change and Development, Independent University, Bangladesh and Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Environment and Development in London.