Bangladesh has no clear net zero greenhouse gas emission target– Saber Hossain Chowdhury

Saber Hossain Chowdhury, President of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC), Bangladesh, said, “The biggest challenge of the climate crisis is that we are creating problems faster than solving them.”

“We must create a holistic framework to solve problems and implement policies. Bangladesh does not have a clear net zero greenhouse gas emission target, which needs to be set, and greater coordination between ministries is needed for sustainable solutions,” he added.

“We should not depend on other countries for solutions; we should find the right way,” he opined.

He said these things in the chief guest’s speech at the campaign launch titled ‘Fund Our Future’ organized by ActionAid on September 18, 2023.

ActionAid Bangladesh Country Director Farah Kabir, Research Director of Center for Policy Dialogue Dr. Khondkar Golam Moazzem, former Chief Secretary of Prime Minister’s Office Abul Kalam Azad, Executive Director of Bangladesh Center of Advanced Studies Atiq Rahman, and others were present at the program.

Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, said, “Banks and financial institutions are the main drivers of our climate crisis.”

“We need to ensure goal setting, accountability, and monitoring.

We ask decision-makers to finance responsibly for a better world. We must seek justice and continue our fight with collective efforts,” she added.

On the occasion, Khondkar Golam Moazzem said, Steps should be taken to move away from fossil fuel subsidies and use them for alternative sustainable routes.”

“It is good that the government is setting targets for renewable energy, but if our ultimate goal is to reduce fossil fuels, then we need a reduction target as well,” he added.