FM calls for transferring clean tecnology to LDCs

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FE Team | Published: April 05, 2011 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

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Foreign Minister (FM) Dr Dipu Moni Monday requested developed economies to take positive actions in transferring clean technology to developing nations particularly the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), reports UNB. "The availability of technology would help us switch from fossil fuel to clean energy option, which is crucial. Equally critical is the availability of technology at affordable price. International initiatives are needed to bridge this technology gap,' she said at the first assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi. Dr Moni said for a country like Bangladesh, high initial investment and lack of proper technologies are the main barriers to achieving the goals. She said the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology could play a significant role in human resource development in clean energy technology. She said South Asia has a vast energy demand and is dependent on fossil fuel. Nuclear power is gradually becoming prominent in the power landscape. Solar, wind and other renewable energy has also potential, but to a lesser extent. Dr Moni said countries like Bangladesh might be able to enhance capacity for exploring renewable energy potential with international and regional co-operation. "Our challenges are formidable and global level collective actions are needed to face them. We must invest more on development of technologies on efficient uses of renewable sources for power," she told the meeting. She said: "If we continue to depend on fossil fuel, we would be making irreversible damage to our ecology and bio-diversity. We must rise now and do the needful to contribute to saving our environment, a global public good." Dr Moni said despite multiple crises in the past few years, Bangladesh economy has grown at a steady rate of above 6 per cent annually in the last one decade.