Bangladesh has demanded a robust commitment from the developed countries and others to address the impact caused by the climate change.
“For Bangladesh, “adaptation” is key. We cannot be left to adapt to “degradation” because of climate change,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in her statement at the UN Climate Summit in New York city yesterday.
Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries as lives and livelihoods of millions of Bangladeshis are challenged due to climate change.
“Many of them are compelled to move out; and even change traditional professions. Most of our development efforts and gains are at stake due to climate impacts,” the prime minister said.
There is a fear that wheat and major rice crop production might fall in the future.
“Rising intensity and frequency of flooding, storm surge, salinity intrusion and the gradual changes as a result of climate change are affecting millions along our coast,” she said.
Hasina said as a responsible member of the international community, Bangladesh would never exceed the average per capita emission of the developing world.
“It is our firm commitment to low-carbon, climate-resilient development path. The countries with large emission of fossil fuels should reciprocate such a voluntary commitment from a climate-vulnerable Bangladesh.”
The prime minister also stressed on the adaptation and loss and damage. “We would ask for maintaining a critical balance among adaptation and mitigation.”
As part of the Cancun Adaptation Framework, the countries initiated consideration on approaches to address loss and damage associated with climate change impacts in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
Finance, technology development and transfer, capacity building, transparency of action and support are needed for countries like Bangladesh to reduce the impact of climate change, Hasina said.
About finance, she said robust and early capitalisation of Global Climate Fund is crucial for Bangladesh.
“There should be greater ‘fast-track finance’ for adaptation, particularly for the climate-vulnerable countries,” she said.
Bangladesh is working towards its possible Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, she added.
“We will need support for their implementation. Carbon budgeting and de-carbonisation pathways should also merit our greater attention,” the prime minister said.
Private climate finance can only be complementary for mitigation and for adaptation planning and its implementation, adequate and predictable financing is a must, she added.
Hasina sought support for wider capacity building and technology as they are crucial.
“What Bangladesh asks for is access to life-saving technologies and support to developing adaptive technologies.”
The prime minister said Bangladesh has learned much on the adaptation front and it is ready to share its experience on climate-resilience.
Bangladesh in recent years has taken some steps to address the climate change.
It has formulated Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan and installed 3.2 million solar home systems and provided over 1.5 million improved cook stoves across Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi scientists are working on stress-tolerant crop varieties and allocated $385 million from its own resources for adaptation and mitigation.