We congratulate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on winning the award, due to be given by the UN Environment Program at the Sustainable Development Goals summit this month in recognition of the innovative way in which environmental action programs in Bangladesh have aided important social and economic goals.
Bangladesh, under the PM’s astute guidance, has made huge strides in providing millions of solar home power systems in rural communities through IDCOL and organisations such as Grameen Shakti.
These not only grow the use of renewable energy and provide more people with reliable electricity, but help to raise living standards and increase people’s resilience to the negative impacts of climate change.
The PM is well aware that our nation is on the frontline of climate change and no doubt she will use this prestigious award to take a lead in helping the world reduce dependence on fossil fuels by supporting proposals for globally co-ordinated taxes on the use of fossil fuels.
We believe that this award is indicative of more similar achievements to come.
Economists and environmental scientists agree that taxes on fossil fuels would make renewable energy more competitive in comparison to fossil fuels and stimulate investment in renewable energy to reduce the world’s reliance on fossil fuels.
In a Bangladeshi context, this policy would also save much tax-payer money by cutting wasteful subsidies on power and gas. These funds could be freed for investment in education and development.
We can be proud of the fact that emissions from Bangladesh are negligible, and have not been a barrier to efforts to industrialise our economy. It is important we keep this up.
Our government has been working hard to cut our own dependence on fossil fuels.
We are confident Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina continues to use her moral authority and the legitimacy of this award to demand better from the rest of the world in fighting climate change.