Paris: Although skeptical about its effectiveness, former Environment and Forests Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud here on Monday said Bangladesh hopes that a climate change deal will be struck at this year’s climate conference COP-21.

He also said Bangladesh will not accept any loan in the name of climate change assistance. ‘The climate change funds have to be additional to any other monetary assistance and the funds should be easier,’ the minister said.

Dr Hasan Mahmud, also chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment and Forests Ministry, said the technology transfer for climate change deal will have to be outside the purview of intellectual property rights.

Meanwhile, all 195 countries started ministerial talks at the COP-21 on Monday.

Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju is scheduled to address the meeting in the evening (local time).

Besides, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, while inaugurating the minister-level talks, urged the world leaders to reach a consensus on a feasible climate change deal.

In his speech, Ban said this conference should push for every effort in formulating a climate change deal that will limit yearly temperature rises within the 2-degree Celsius threshold.

He proposed a deal outline where the deal will be for a 20-year period and then it will be regularly revised every 5 years based on scientific developments.  

Ban emphasised striking a balanced deal that will benefit the environment and vulnerable countries.  

He also reminded that all developing nations should commit themselves to the deal and fulfill their pledge of US$100 billion for climate change funds.

The ministerial talks will continue till Tuesday.