Inauguration of Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) Bangladesh Office
By Zeba Tarannum
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called upon the countries to increase their nationally determined contribution to the Paris Agreement’s implementation and its commitment to address the climate crisis.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the call at the inauguration ceremony of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) Bangladesh office on Tuesday (8th of September) by participating virtually from Ganobhaban.
The Global Center on Adaptation-GCA Bangladesh Office was virtually inaugurated jointly by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former UN Secretary-General and Chairman of the GCA Board Ban Ki-Moon.
Among others, the prime minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, spoke on occasion.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said climate change is a global issue. So, we call for increasing the nationally determined contributions of various countries to implement the Paris Agreement to combat the climate crisis.
By calling upon all the countries to work together to tackle the crisis, The Prime Minister said the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is calling for the more fantastic help and cooperation between different countries. We should not leave each other to fight this ongoing crisis or such a crisis in the future. We will work together, fight together, win together.’
After inaugurating the GCA’s new office in Dhaka, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed hope that the GCA’s Dhaka office would act as a ‘center of excellence’ in climate adaptation in South Asia. That is, it will act as a means of solution.
Regarding opening a new office in Dhaka, Sheikh Hasina said it was a historic moment in the fight against the climate change crisis in South Asia through adaptation. The GCA Bangladesh Office will provide all possible assistance to increase adaptation and climate resilience in South Asia.
The Prime Minister said the region is at high risk of natural disasters like cyclones, floods, tidal surges, droughts, glacial lake outburst floods, and landslides due to climate change. Even if the temperature rises by only 1.5 degrees, different areas of this region, including Bangladesh, will face severe damage.
The Prime Minister reminded that women, children, the elderly, and the physically challenged people are at greater risk due to climate change.
Urging the Paris Agreement’s implementation, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh wants all kinds of measures and prevents global warming and other environmental damages caused due to Greenhouse Gas emissions and the Paris Agreement’s performance.
The Prime Minister mentioned that Bangladesh has been spending 1 percent of GDP or equivalent to 2 billion US dollars every year since 2010 for adaptation. She also highlighted Bangladesh’s activities of raising a fund of 430 million from its resources to the Climate Change Trust Fund to implement an action plan to tackle climate change.
Keeping in mind the risks of climate change, The Prime Minister mentioned the adoption of Delta Plan-2100 for 100 years.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is a unique example in terms of climate vulnerability and resilience. The people here have set a standard in dealing with natural disasters and human-made disasters.
Relevant Ministers of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives spoke on occasion.
