To Protect Climate Change Adverse Situation an Action Plan Need to formulate – Saima Wazed
By Zeba Tarannum
Saima Wazed Hossain, Thematic Ambassador of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), called for the formulation of a CVF-COP 26 resilience action plan to tackle climate change and mental health issues.
She made the call at a high-level CVF dialogue organized by the Bangladesh High Commission in London on November 30, 2020. This information has been reported in the press release on December 2, 2020.
Saima Wazed said, “We must learn from the best practices of climate change to help the disabled people with health problems and diverse cultural and religious beliefs, including the most vulnerable and marginalized individuals. We should learn it to endure the trauma of extreme climate-related disasters and natural disasters.”
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem chaired the dialogue. As part of the newly formed CVF High Commissioners/Ambassadors Forum in London, Lord Zac Goldsmith, Minister for Pacific, the Environment and COP26 at the UK FCDO, Md Shahriar Alam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, Prof Dr. Saleemul Huq, Chair of CVF Expert Advisory Group and Director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development and Prof Dr. Patrick Verkooijen, Chief Executive Officer, Global Center on Adaptation spoke at the high-level segment of the dialogue.
Abul Kalam Azad, Special Envoy to Bangladesh Presidency of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, presented a keynote paper at the dialogue. High Commissioners, Ambassadors, and Diplomats of 40 CVF member countries based in London were present.
UK Minister Lord Jack Goldsmith emphasized net-zero emissions within 2050 along with the UK’s ambitious climate action plans as a long term strategy.
The UK Minister referred to his recent virtual visit to Bangladesh and praised Bangladesh’s nature-based resilient program. He expressed interest in working closely with Bangladesh to support the CVF countries ambitious adaptation and resilience plans.
Speaking as the chief guest, State Minister Md Shahriar Alam said Bangladesh remains one of the most affected countries even though the liability for carbon emissions is negligible.
But the country has made remarkable progress in both adaptation and mitigation measures with strong political commitment and prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the courage and strength of its people.
Shahriar Alam said, without waiting for anyone’s help to build climate resilience infrastructures, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ensured that Bangladesh is the first LDC who establish its own US $400 million Climate Change Trust Fund, prepare a Delta Plan 2100, and announced the ‘Mujib Planetary Prosperity Decade (2020-30) and action plan on the occasion of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation’s Birth Centenary in 2020.
Referring to the newly established Bangladesh-UK Climate Partnership Forum, the State Minister said, as the CVF Presidency, Bangladesh is also looking forward to working closely with the UK as COP 26 summits will be held in the UK.
Ref: Green Page
