BD most vulnerable nation to climate change

World Environment Day will be observed today (Thursday) with due importance globally, reports BSS.
With increasing concern about climate change, the world over, the slogan of this year is: Raise your voice, not the sea level.
Because of the great vulnerability of small island developing states, where some 63 million people live, to sea level rise, the year has been dedicated to them.
On the eve of the Day, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina in separate messages called upon all to take up the issue of climate change seriously.
They said Bangladesh is at the frontier of the battle against global warming and sea level rise, which, they said, was a threat to the environment of the world and its bio-diversity.
They also said that Bangladesh is among the most vulnerable countries to climate change. "Therefore we should address the issue, earnestly", they added.
The PM also mentioned that Bangladesh had formed a Trust Fund from its own resources to fight the adverse effects of climate change.
She also said that a "Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund (BCCRF)" had been formed to source foreign funds for this purpose.
The President and the PM called upon all to observe the day seriously.
The secretary general of the United Nations Ban-Ki-moon in a message called upon the world to take prompt action to save the scenic islands which attract huge number of tourists every year.
The UN chief also expressed the hope that a legally binding climate agreement will be reached by 2015. The Forest and Environment Ministry has adopted a seven-day programme to mark the day.