BTFF makes it to UN climate meet

Source : Guwahati, Times of India

Date : Tuesday July 27, 2009

BTFF is among 67 organizations across the world selected as observers of the UN conference. BTFF will now have access to exclusive forum of delegates and leaders to present India's and other developing countries' stand on climate change.

Guwahati, Times of India, Tuesday July 27, 2009: The Balipara Tract Frontier Foundation (BTFF), an NGO working on community-based sustainable livelihood in Sonitpur district, has been selected as an observer organization for the 15th conference of parties (COP) of United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. It will be held in December this year.

BTFF is among 67 organizations in the world selected as observers. Managing Trustee of BTFF, Prabir Banerjea, "As one of the observers we will be in a position to influence future global climate change policy and action. The overall goal of the COP will be to establish an ambitious global climate change agreement from 2012."

"This is indeed a moment of great pride as this is the first time an Assam-based organization has been selected for the job," he added.

BTFF will now have access to exclusive forum of delegates and leaders across the world to present India's and other developing countries' stand on climate change. About 189 countries are expected to take part in the COP.

"We have also been invited to the climate change session that will be held in Bangkok and Barcelona, before leading up to Copenhagen," Banerjea said.

Under its concept of naturenomics, the BTFF has taken up sustainable development through organic cultivation and eco-tourism with involvement of local communities in Balipara area of Sonitpur district.

The United Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was initiated in March 1994. The objective is to bring nations for developing mandates and measures towards stabilizing greenhouse gas concentration. It will also talk about various ways of preventing dangers from climate change.

The Kyoto Protocol is an international and legally binding agreement signed and ratified by 184 countries. It was adopted in 1997 and entered into force in February 2005. It regulates greenhouse gas emission standards and emission reduction targets for developing and developed nations.

In 2012, the Kyoto Protocol will expire and parties of the UNFCCC will meet in Copenhagen before the climate agreement is renewed.