Bangladesh signed the historic Paris Climate Agreement at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday, aiming to take multiple measures to save the world from disastrous consequences of climate change.Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju signed the deal on behalf of Bangladesh. Some 175 countries, including China and the US, signed the deal. The signing day coincided with ‘International Mother Earth Day’. The signing ceremony turned out to be an event closely resembling the annual UN General Assembly sessions, featuring around 60 heads of state and government, according to a message received here.The opening session was addressed, among others, by the Presidents of France, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Prime Ministers of Canada, Italy and Tuvalu, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Special Envoy of the President of China, US Secretary of State and UN Secretary General.The Bangladesh statement at the event highlighted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s personal commitment to combating climate change, and reaffirmed her government’s readiness to continue to work towards mobilising greater international efforts in support of comprehensively implementing the Paris deal.”Collective wisdom and commitments are essential to implement the Paris Climate Agreement… We all must consider the urgency of acting now,” the statement reads. Bangladesh also flagged the various initiatives taken by the government to adapt to climate change in a pro-active manner through its own resources and international cooperation. It was particularly mentioned that a roadmap for implementing Bangladesh’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) was currently in the making. “All countries need to be united in our collective journey, keeping in mind that one’s non-compliance may threaten the existence of all. However, developed countries have to take lead in this case,” the Bangladesh statement urged all Following the deal signing, Minister Manju exchanged greetings with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the UNFCCC Executive Secretary Cristiana Figueres. He also had a bilateral meeting with Fatma Gulmedet Sari, Minister for Environment and Urbanization of Turkey. The two ministers agreed to work together during the lead-up to UNFCCC COP22 in Morocco in November 2016 to promote the issues of common interests, with focus on climate vulnerable LDCs.
