PM calls for adequate funding to fight climate change

While speaking at a High-Level Thematic Session of Climate Ambition Summit, titled “Delivering Climate Justice: Accelerating Ambition and Implementation on Adaptation and Early Warnings for All”, at the UN Headquarters in New York Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said that the world major economies should exercise honesty about climate change to avoid impending crisis. Reportedly, the premier called on developed countries to provide adequate funding for addressing climate change in developing countries including Bangladesh. Highlighting the remarkable success of Bangladesh’s early warning system in dealing with climate change-related natural disasters she mentioned that Bangladesh is generally considered a global leader in climate adaptation.

Bangladesh is recognised internationally for its cutting-edge achievements in addressing climate change. The country has been spending $2 billion a year since 2010 due to address climate change. However, despite the considerable progress that Bangladesh has made over the last decade, the country faces continuous challenges associated with climate change. Bangladesh is one of the nations that emits very little carbon, but it is likely to be among those that suffer most because of global warming.

It is time to increase the 

investment in policies and

 programmes to protect 

people from environmental

 risks induced by climate change

The world is now going through a situation where the most vulnerable countries, which deserve the highest level of priority, are failing to access support that is being realised. Major emitters show extreme reluctance on mitigation, which may wreck the international climate regime and put the climate vulnerable countries like Bangladesh at peril. As developed countries are accountable for the severe consequences of climate change, they must provide with necessary financial, technological and intellectual support to the developing countries following the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change. Moreover, developing countries like Bangladesh need a global commitment to face climate challenges.

It is time to increase the investment in policies and programmes to protect people from environmental risks induced by climate change. There is a need to prioritise the districts vulnerable to climate change and establish a district-level funding mechanism focusing on capacity building of women, young people and children.