As the world grapples with what is perhaps the biggest existential threat to our entire species, climate change, leaders across the globe need to understand that this is not a war that can be fought unless each and every nation is on the same page.
Bangladesh, as we have expressed time and again, is one of the nations which find itself in the unenviable position of being in the frontlines in the war against climate change -- a yet developing economy, due to the irresponsible levels of industrialization of a handful of developing countries, our country now has to deal with problems such as increasing climate intensity and floods all the while also adopting sustainable practices into our very industrial growth. Practices that are not cheap, and for which we are having to foot the bill ourselves.
In this context, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent plea to world leaders at the Munich Security Conference 2024 to fix what the developed world has broken by making good on pledges of climate financing needs to be heard loud and clear.
The PM further placed six points which world leaders can use as guidelines in this endeavour, which include tackling the imbalance in financing mitigation and adaptation measures for developing economies, making good on the commitment of providing $100 billion per annum up to the year 2025, streamlining access to existing international climate funds.
It is heartening to see France step up in this regard, as both our nations are expected to sign a Climate Adaptation Pact worth $1.1bn sometime after the second quarter of the current year. This is what commitment looks like.