Bangladesh is a role model in showing the world that with courage and foresight even a developing country Bangladesh could roll out so many trends setting climate initiatives. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary-General of the United Nations stated this when he was chairing the launching of Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA) in the Netherlands. The GCA is a new initiative to elevate the political visibility of climate change adaptation and to focus on solutions. Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with the Presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Indonesia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Marshall Islands, Argentina; Premier of China, Chancellor of Germany, and Prime Ministers of the Netherlands, India, UK, Canada, Denmark, Ethiopia and Grenada are the Conveners of the GCA.
Mr. Ban Ki-moon also appreciated the leadership of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her role as a global leader in bringing the issue of adaptation in an emphatic and innovative way.
Mr. Anisul Islam Mahmud, MP, Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, while representing Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as Convener, highlighted;
- Mere discussion won’t solve the problem
- Targeted funding is required
- Private funding in the developing world is a huge challenge and as such appealed to the developed countries to come up with funding
Mr. Anisul Islam, highlighting trans-boundary nature of climate, drew the attention of global community on the problem of melting of snow in the Himalayas at an alarming rate, wished to see a Himalayan basin wide approach for more coordinated actions against the problems of climate change adaptation.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, in his inaugurating speech, referred to Bangladesh’s successes as well as challenges with regard to climate change adaptation.
The inaugural ceremony also included a video message from Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, where she highlighted Bangladesh’s stellar successes in climate change related disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation strategies and programmes, and assured Bangladesh’s own trend setting work to make the lives and living of Bangladesh people as safe and prosperous as possible.
Bangladesh Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud also highlighted the presence of over a million of forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar and how they also aggravated the environment as we have to provide them accommodation and means of living. The Honb’le Minister assured that Bangladesh will continue to deal with the issue of climate change adaptation under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as we would like to build an eco-friendly and integrated South Asia, where Bangladesh shall continue to serve as a role model.