Bangladesh’s Climate Adaptation is an Example for the World: United Kingdom.
By Sadman Sad
Citing Bangladesh’s climate adaptation efforts as a role model for the world, Lord Goldsmith, the UK’s Minister for Environment, emphasized the need to work with Bangladesh to combat climate change.
He said, “Developing countries like Bangladesh are most affected by climate change. The work being done here (Bangladesh) to adapt to climate change and build tolerance is a role model for the world. “
This information was given in a press release of the British High Commission on August 29, 2020.
The United Kingdom will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow next year’s partnership with Italy. Meanwhile, Bangladesh is chairing the Climate Vulnerability Forum (CVF) and the Finance Minister’s Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Group of Finance Ministers for the 2020-2022 term.
“As President of COP26, we encourage countries concerned to come forward with an ambitious approach to presenting nature-based solutions at the heart of climate change planning,” The UK’s president said.
He noted that the United Kingdom is proud to support Bangladesh’s adaptation efforts to address the adverse effects of global warming. Lord Goldsmith had a virtual meeting with Saima Wazed Hossain, the newly appointed Thematic Ambassador of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF).
During the meeting, they discussed the use of the Forum’s role in enhancing global ambitions on adaptation and tolerance during the COP26 program.
Saima, daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is an expert on neurodevelopmental disorders and mental health and a skilled speaker and author.
Lord Goldsmith also met with State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid and discussed Bangladesh’s growing demand for reliable energy and the possibility of replacing coal through renewable power generation.
The UK Minister also met Abul Kalam Azad, Special Envoy of the CVF Presidency in Bangladesh, and Professor Salimul Haque, Director of the International Center for Climate Change and Development, which works with Oxford University to encourage the integration of nature-based solutions in Bangladesh.
Robert Chatterton Dixon, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, discussed, “How can we work together as a joint force in Bangladesh to tackle the local and international levels, and help the world to make it greener from pandemic.”
He said the UK and Bangladesh could play an important role in leading global efforts to tackle climate change as COP26 and CVF chairs.
During the virtual visit at a time when people in rural and urban areas of Bangladesh have been displaced by floods, the UK Minister observed the impact of climate change on agriculture, health, and livelihoods in Bangladesh.
Lord Goldsmith discusses ways to overcome these challenges by working with nature to find solutions based on nature, not against nature.
Developed in the delta of three major rivers, densely populated Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world due to climate change. More than 70 percent of the population is at risk of cyclones and its economic impact is significant.
The press release further said that the United Kingdom has made efforts to provide climate adaptation and tolerance assistance to Bangladesh in response to the adverse effects of climate change, including providing flood and cyclone early warning to 27 million people and protecting 40,000 hectares of predial land from monsoon floods. (BSS)
Ref: GreenPage
