Key meeting on environmental cooperation held

FE Team | Published: November 21, 2024 23:38:22

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, Climate Change, and Water Resources, held a productive meeting with the Environment Secretaries of Nepal and Bhutan at the Bangladesh Pavilion during the ongoing COP-29 Climate Change Conference, being held in Baku, Azerbaijan, reports UNB.
Environment Secretary of Bangladesh Dr. Farhina Ahmed was also present at the meeting.
During the discussion, Rizwana highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in addressing climate challenges. She emphasized the need for actionable joint initiatives in key areas such as energy, agriculture, forestry, and rivers.
"Let's work together to outline steps for effective collaboration and progress. To identify areas for meaningful joint action, we should focus on energy, agriculture, forestry and potentially rivers. These sectors are interconnected with climate resilience and provide significant opportunities for collaboration and shared learning," she said.
She warned against the adoption of false solutions promoted by agro-giants and called for prioritizing sustainable practices that genuinely support farmers and communities.
The adviser stressed the importance of regional cooperation and investment in renewable energy to meet growing demands while reducing emissions.
She urged countries to share strategies to accelerate transitions to sustainable energy, enhancing both national and regional resilience.
Rivers, as a critical resource for climate adaptation and agriculture, were also identified as a potential focus for collaboration. She proposed mechanisms to address challenges related to price-sensitive crops.
The adviser further emphasized the need for innovative solutions such as community seed banks and resilient crop varieties.