AGENCIES

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the international partners to support the efforts of Bangladesh to implement its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for 2023-2050.

“We need $230 billion for implementing our adaptation plan from both domestic and international resources. Bangladesh continues to seek a 50-50 allocation for adaptation and mitigation from international climate financing,” she said.

The PM was addressing the inaugural ceremony of a global hub on Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) at Foreign Service Academy through a virtual platform from the Gono Bhaban. She opened Global Hub on LLA to reinforce Bangladesh’s global leadership on LLA, building on the momentum gained during COP27.

The Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) launched the hub, responding to Hasina’s call for sharing the experiences of Bangladesh and other countries on improving climate resilience of vulnerable communities, reports UNB.

Hasina said the adaptation plan will complement the work being carried out under Delta Plan 2100 and Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan. “I invite our international partners from the public and private sectors to join us in this effort in the spirit of the Paris Agreement.”

The PM said Bangladesh now spends 6-7 percent of the GDP for climate adaptation. Bangladesh has so far implemented 800 projects for both climate adaptation and mitigation under a Climate Change Trust Fund set up with its own resources in 2009.

“We must all redouble our efforts to keep the global warming limited to 1.5° Centigrade,” she added, reports BSS.

Hasina said her government will extend all possible support to the global hub. “We are pleased to have this as yet another offering from Bangladesh for the climate vulnerable people around the world.”

She hoped the South Asian Regional Office of GCA, which was launched in Dhaka in 2020, would emerge as a centre of excellence for the region and beyond.

GCA Chair and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, GCA CEO Patrick Verkooijen, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Environment Minister Shahab Uddin and British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson also spoke.