BD seeks Britain’s assistance in combating climate vulnerabilities: Environment Minister

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin on Monday said that Bangladesh sought Britain’s cooperation in combating climate vulnerabilities.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladesh government was trying its best to combat the negative effects of climate change with its limited resources.

 

According to the National Action Plan (NAP) prepared by the Government of Bangladesh, Bangladesh needs a huge amount of money to implement its 113 activities.

 

“It is difficult for Bangladesh to implement and achieve climate tolerance without international and bilateral cooperation. So, we are expecting cooperation and support from a developed country like UK,” said the minister.

 

He said these things when a delegation led by the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke called on minister of environment, forest and climate change in Bangladesh Secretariat on Monday.

 

The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary (Administration) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Additional Secretary (Environment and Climate Change) Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik, Deputy Secretary Mohammad Abdul Wadud Chowdhury and team leader of the Climate and Environment team of the British High Commission Alex Harveys, along with senior officials.

 

The environment minister said that Bangladesh is the seventh most dangerous country in the world even though it emits less than 0.48% of the total global greenhouse gas.

 

Appreciating the UK government for implementing the Bangladesh Climate Change Program, the minister said that Bangladesh was willing to work together with UK on the Global Goals on Adaptation, Mitigation Work Program and Global Goals for Loss and Damage Funding.

 

British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke said that there were many similarities between Bangladesh and Britain in the actions taken to combat the effects of climate change.

 

Appreciating the Bangladesh NDC and NAP, the high commissioner said that if the newly formulated Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan is implemented, Bangladesh will be considered a role model in the world in climate action.

 

She praised Bangladesh’s ecosystem-based adaptation and said the UK’s ongoing cooperation in climate action will continue at an increasing pace.

oceantimesbd.com