Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo on Thursday said Bangladesh will seek grant-based climate finance and effective support to address loss and damage at COP31.
He said Bangladesh will prioritise securing adequate grant-based climate finance at COP31.
Specifically, he said, the country will advocate for an increase in grants-rather than adding to the debt burden-to support adaptation efforts and address climate-induced loss and damage.
Bangladesh will also call for simplified application and approval processes for climate funds, he said.
The environment minister made the remarks at a press briefing in the ministry’s conference room in the Secretariat ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), scheduled to take place from 9 to 20 November in Antalya, Turkey.
He outlined Bangladesh’s preparations, key priorities, and expectations for the conference.
Dr. Saimum Parvez, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was also present.
Mintoo said at the invitation of the Government of Turkey, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Tarique Rahman, will participate in the high-level segment of the conference.
This will provide an opportunity to highlight the interests of climate-vulnerable populations, Bangladesh’s national priorities, and the necessity
for international cooperation at the highest political level, he said
The minister said climate change-induced cyclones, floods, salinity intrusion, droughts, and heatwaves poses a severe threat to human lives, livelihoods, and development.
At this conference, Bangladesh will prioritise the protection of climate-vulnerable people, the pursuit of climate justice, and the acquisition of financial and technological support to implement national plans, he said
Regarding adaptation, Mintoo said Bangladesh will seek support in the form of finance, technology, and capacity building to implement its National Adaptation Plan and achieve tangible progress toward the Global Goal on Adaptation.
Priority will be given to ensuring water, food, health, and livelihood security for people living in coastal areas, haors (wetland basins), chars
and drought-prone regions, as well as to early warning systems and locally-led adaptation efforts, he said
Addressing climate-related loss and damage, the minister said mechanisms must be strengthened to ensure that vulnerable nations and affected communities
can access grant-based funding from the loss and damage fund quickly and easily.
Beyond economic losses, additional support is required to address non-economic losses, such as displacement and the loss of livelihoods, he said.
He emphasised the need for rapid, science-based emissions reductions to limit global warming to 1.5øC.
He noted that developed nations must take the lead, while major emitting countries should implement effective measures commensurate with their responsibilities and capacities.
Furthermore, Mintoo said, financial and technological support must be secured to help developing nations implement their conditional Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
He indicated that Bangladesh will seek support for an eco-friendly transition across the agriculture, industry, transport, and energy sectors.
This transition will prioritise the equitable distribution of costs and benefits, the protection of workers’ rights, skills development, social
security, and the creation of decent employment opportunities for women and youth, he said.
Mintoo said Bangladesh’s priorities include ensuring affordable access to renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean industrial and transport solutions, and climate-resilient technologies.
Additionally, he said, Bangladesh will advocate for increased funding for the conservation of forests, mangroves, wetlands, and biodiversity; the implementation of nature-based solutions; and climate initiatives led by women and local communities.
The country will also seek cooperation to mitigate any adverse impacts that climate action might have on the exports, employment, and competitiveness of developing nations, he said.
In response to a question, Dr. Saimum Parvez explained that Bangladesh’s position paper was formulated by incorporating input from relevant
ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as advice from climate experts.
The Bangladesh delegation will work in the national interest, in coordination with the Least Developed Countries (LDC) group, the G-77, and like-minded climate-vulnerable nations, he said.
He said Bangladesh’s expectation from the COP31 conference is to see concrete progress regarding climate finance and implementation support-measures essential for addressing climate risks and safeguarding human lives and livelihoods.
Dr. Fahmida Khanam, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, Additional Secretary; Dr. Md. Lutfor Rahman, Director General of the Department of Environment and Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests, were present, among others.
Cox’s Bazar Life Desk/BSS
