PM Hasina seeks stronger steps to address ‘planetary emergency’

Renewing her call for strict implementation of the Paris Agreement, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked global leaders to take stronger steps urgently to address the planetary emergency of climate change.

Sheikh Hasina also placed six-point proposal before the global leaders as the COP-26 is just few months away.

She addressed a closed-door leaders’ meeting arranged for a small group of heads of state and governments on Climate Change held at Trusteeship Council of the UN Headquarters on Monday.

“Finally, we need a ‘whole-of-the-world’ approach to leave a sustainable future for our next generations,” she said.

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and UN Secretary General António Guterres convened the meeting.

Hasina said climate vulnerable countries contribute the least to the global Green House gas emissions. “Yet, they’re the worst victims of the impacts of climate change.”

She mentioned that the recent IPCC report has provided a grim picture about their future. “If the global temperature goes above 1.5 degree Celsius, they’ll face permanent damages. The international community has a special responsibility to support these countries in their adaptation and mitigation efforts.” 

Despite being a climate vulnerable country with resource constraints, Hasina said, Bangladesh has emerged as a global pioneer on adaptation and resilience.

Recently, she said, Bangladesh has submitted an ambitious and updated NDC to the UNFCCC.

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Besides, she mentioned, it has adopted the “Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan” focusing on green growth, resilient infrastructure and renewable energy. “We’re on our journey from climate vulnerability to climate resilience to climate prosperity (VRP),” she announced.

Hasina also said as the Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and V20, the key focus is on promoting the interests of the climate vulnerable countries.

“We’re also sharing the best practices and adaptation knowledge with other climate vulnerable countries through the GCA South Asia regional office in Dhaka,” she said.

The proposals put forward by the premier include strict implementation of the Paris Agreement to keep the global temperature rise below 1.5 degree Celsius, realisation of annual $100 billion climate fund from the developed countries, 50% of this fund should go to adaptation and resilience, especially to climate vulnerable countries.

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The other proposals are: Forging new financial mechanisms and transfer of green technology to the developing countries, addressing loss-and-damage issue, and displacement of large-scale population due to climate change and capacity building of CVF countries to tackle the double jeopardy of pandemic and disaster, particularly with the increased frequency of climate-induced disasters.