BSS-54 Shahab Uddin for global efforts to combat climate change

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BSS-54

CLIMATE-IMPACT-ACTION

Shahab Uddin for global efforts to combat climate change

DHAKA, Feb 25, 2021 (BSS) – Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin today said the both developed and developing countries should work together to combat the adverse impacts of climate change.

“As a member of Commonwealth, we have more expectation from the UK for transferring technology, expertise and other related assistance for gradual increase of renewable energy,” he said.

The minister made the remarks at a virtual meeting with British Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said a press release.

Shahab Uddin hoped that the discussion will guide towards a more resilient, low carbon development, a green economic recovery, and a safer climate for all.

Noting that Bangladesh government has allocated nearly US $470 million to the BCCT fund, he said, so far, the fund has supported 789 adaptation and mitigation projects for addressing climate change.

In addition, the government has already spent as much as US$10 billion to make the country less vulnerable to natural disaster, the minister said, adding that Bangladesh has submitted its updated (interim) NDC to UNFCCC on December 31, 2020.

He also hoped that the final NDC would be submitted by mid-2021 with ambitious mitigation target.

“Bangladesh is formulating National Adaptation Plan (NAP) with a view to reducing vulnerability to the impacts of climate change by building adaptive capacity and resilience, which will be completed by 2021,” Shahab Uddin said.

Bangladesh is a part of the Adaptation Action Coalition (AAC) and the Chair of Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) for 2020-2021, the minister said, adding, “We are working with member countries to make the CVF more effective to address adaptation and resilience”.

Informing that Regional Office of Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) has been established in Dhaka recently, he said, “Our government already announced the “Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan” for Bangladesh and already planted 11.5 million saplings across the country in 2020″.

Besides, the government has built 14,000 climate shelters in the country’s coastal belt to accommodate climate migrants, the minister also informed.

The minister said that on Market and Non-Market Mechanism (Article 6 of Paris Agreement) still remains to be completely agreed upon and some progress have been made.

“We expect that we shall be able to come to a decision at COP 26. We expect to fulfill the commitment from the developed countries to contribute US$ 100 billion per year for adaptation and mitigation from 2020 onwards,” he said.

Noting that transfer of energy efficient technology is the key to substantially reduce emissions from energy, industry and transport, Shahab Udding, however, said the technology mechanism, which has been established does not have the mandate and required resources to make a transformational change in this important area.

The environment minster thanked British minister for extending the invitation to join the ministerial event on March 31, 2021.

BSS/PR/SAH/MRU/2001hrs