Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has urged the United Kingdom (UK) to expand bilateral relations with Bangladesh to tackle climate change by transferring green technology, promoting green investment, and supporting climate mitigation projects, reports bdnews24.com.
He made the call during a meeting with COP26 President-designate Alok Sharma at London's 9 Downing Street, the Bangladesh High Commission in London said in a statement.
Highlighting Bangladesh's important role in the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Momen called for a joint climate event on the sidelines of COP26 to bolster climate cooperation among the most climate-vulnerable countries, including Bangladesh.
He also proposed that the supporting climate mitigation projects include building embankments to protect the people from sea-level rise and river erosion.
At the meeting, Momen briefed Alok Sharma on the COP26 agenda for Bangladesh, focusing particularly on loss and damage and the proposed CVF-COP26 Leaders' Summit under Bangladesh's presidency.
Sharma assured Bangladesh of the UK's continued support for its climate initiatives covering different areas, including collaboration to promote green financing and investment, and technology transfer to build a clean and green future.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland Saida Muna Tasneem accompanied Momen to the talks along with other senior members of the minister's delegation.
Later, Dr Momen delivered a climate talk titled 'Forging a CVF-COP26 Climate Solidarity' at the headquarters of the UK's foremost international affairs think tank Chatham House, calling for global solidarity and political commitment to combat climate challenges.
Mentioning various initiatives taken by Bangladesh, including the 'Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan Decade 2030' and Bangladesh's self-financed $450 million Climate Change Trust Fund, the minister reiterated Hasina's commitment to pursuing a low-carbon development path, even though the South Asian country is a minimal emitter.
Momen also sought the UK's support in repatriating more than 1.1 million forcibly displaced Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, who are currently taking refuge in Bangladesh, saying that their presence posed a 'grave threat' to the environment in the southeastern part of the country.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
