The United Nations and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have assured Bangladesh of providing all necessary assistance to cope with climate change impacts and implement National Adaptation Plan (NAP). The assurance came when United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Representative Edimon Ginting met Environment, Forest and Climate Minister Md Shahab Uddin at separate meetings at the Secretariat Tuesday.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Administration) Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Additional Secretary (Development) Mizanul Hoque Chowdhury, Joint Secretary Zakia Afroz, ADB Country Specialist Soon Chang Hong, ADB External Affairs Team Leader Gobinda Bar and other senior officials of the ministry were present.
Shahab Uddin said Bangladesh needs US$ 230 billion by 2030 to implement the NAP. “We expect the cooperation of international organisations like the United Nations and ADB in the NAP implementation,” he said.
Referring to the participation of Bangladesh in the COP-27 conference, the minister said Bangladesh is expecting effective steps in the implementation of the Glasgow-Sharm Al Sheikh Work Programme on the Global Goals on Adaptation and the decision to provide US$ 100 billion of aid promised by developed countries to the climate vulnerable countries.
He said a specific financing mechanism must be determined for the most vulnerable countries. In this regard, according to the calculations of the Standing Committee on Finance, the US$ 8.8 to 9.9 trillion required for developing countries by 2030 should be taken into consideration, he said.
Shahab Uddin said the global community must work together to implement the decision to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent by 2030 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees to save the planet.
Gwyn Lewis, UN resident coordinator assigned to Bangladesh, said after returning to the country after the COP-27 conference, the UN will help Bangladesh if it formulates a specific action plan to deal with climate risks. He said Bangladesh can prepare this action plan by setting priorities from Bangladesh Climate Adaptation Plan, Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, Delta Plan and Eighth Five Year Plan.
He expressed special interest in helping climate refugees as a result of climate change.
ADB Country Representative Edimon Ginting said Bangladesh is a role model in the world in dealing with climate change. Various programmes undertaken by Bangladesh are followed by other countries of the world, he said, adding that the ADB is providing support for Bangladesh in various projects.
Assuring that the ADB will continue its support for Bangladesh, the ADB country representative presented a proposal to work on the installation of solar panels above the water without causing any damage to the water bodies in the Haor area.
