Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said, "Out of 154 countries, 100 countries do not have any plan on climate change. Everyone in the world says that Bangladesh is a role model." However, according to the plan, the country needs 534 billion dollars by 2050 to combat climate change. International financial support is essential to finance this massive project.
Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said this on the second day of the UN Climate Adaptation Conference National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Expo 2024 held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the capital on Monday (April 23) afternoon at the 'Advancement of National Climate Plans of Bangladesh' session.
The Minister said, there was a time when developed countries used to talk about climate change in other developing countries, least developed countries, underdeveloped countries and small island states, including Bangladesh. But now developed countries also have to think about climate change. So, climate change is a global issue, not just Bangladesh alone. Despite being a small country, Bangladesh is successfully dealing with the impact of climate change, so everyone in the world sees Bangladesh as a role model.
However, according to our plan, Bangladesh needs 534 billion by 2050 to tackle climate change. It is impossible for the government of Bangladesh alone to provide this huge amount of money. Therefore, international financial support is essential for the implementation of the climate plan. He also said that the World Bank and other international organizations working on financial loan support for climate change should change their perspective on loan support.
He also said that Bangladesh is committed to working together with international partners to build climate resilience. Together with all the countries participating in NAP Expo 2024, we are presenting the experience of how we have worked, the activities we have done to combat the impact of climate change in our country. In addition, the purpose of NAP Expo 2024 is to present the issue of climate change as a pillar at the upcoming COP conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.
In his speech, the Minister also highlighted Bangladesh's leadership in global climate adaptation, including Bangladesh's significant progress in developing and implementing the National Climate Plan.
"Advancement of National Climate Plans of Bangladesh" session was presided over by the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Farhina Ahmed. Malik Fida A Khan, Executive Director, CEGIS; AKM Sohail, Additional Secretary, ERD, and Chair, International Climate Finance Cell; Kennel DELUSCA, Ph.D., ITAP Member, Green Climate Fund; Dr. M. Asaduzzaman spoke as a climate expert panelist on the challenges, opportunities and lessons learned in NAP formulation and implementation in Bangladesh. Dharitri Kumar Sarkar, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry, and Mirza Shawkat Ali, Director, Department of Environment, presented the Bangladesh National Adaptation Plan 2023-2050.