Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon all the countries to fulfill their commitments of reducing carbon emissions and financing initiatives of the climate vulnerable countries.
“I would like to call upon all countries to fulfill their commitments with regard to reducing carbon emissions and financing the initiatives of the climate vulnerable countries,” she said on Tuesday.
The prime minister made the statement while addressing an event hosted by Global Commission on Adaptation held at Conference Room 7 at the UN Headquarters.
Sheikh Hasina said: “Our commitment to partnership will usher in new and innovative measures addressing climate crisis.”
Despite being a non-emitter and severely constrained in terms of resources and choices, Bangladesh is doing its best to bring a difference in the life of its people, she said.
"I believe that our commitment of partnership will set a platform for innovating and sharing different adaptation measures addressing climate change," she added.
The prime minister said Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to climate change and water-related threats and challenges.
"The country is getting even more challenging in making the achieved growth sustainable due to extreme climate variability and environmental degradation," she said.
About the Delta Plan-2100, she said it was a long-term strategy, policy and commitment to implement actions for sustainable delta, and has been prepared with assistance from the Netherlands.
"Bangladesh also plans to achieve long-term sustainable socioeconomic development by facing the adverse impacts of climate change through Adaptive Delta Management approach," she added.
She said the impacts of climate change are increasingly harming the civilization and it is an existential threat for climate vulnerable countries like Bangladesh.
Referring to Amazon forest fire and cyclone Dorian in Bahamas, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said these was a reminder to the world about how real and devastating climate change has already become.
Besides, she said throughout 2018 and 2019 climate change played havoc with people’s health and livelihood around the globe.
She said the 5th Assessment Report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) clearly states that the adverse impacts of climate change will continue to intensify over the current century unless all come up with drastic actions to reduce or stop carbon emission.
The Bangladeshi prime minister said: "We are struggling on two fronts. Firstly, mitigation measures to reduce and eventually reach zero emission in the future. Secondly, adaptation measures in areas where extensive damage has been done.
“The lives and livelihoods of millions of people would continue to be at risk unless we deliver on both these two fronts."
Expressing happiness over the decision of establishing GCA Dhaka Office, she the GCA Bangladesh will contribute substantially to its actions to deal with a changing climate.
She also hoped that the GCA Bangladesh would work to harness international best practices and finance to ensure its successful implementation.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin and State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam were, among others, present at the event.
