BSS, Dhaka :
Inspired by seeing innovative work done by Bangladesh for climate adaption and mitigation, COP26 President-Designated Alok Sharma hoped that Dhaka will continue to lead ahead.
“I am inspired by the innovative work I have seen here (Bangladesh) to address some of the worst effects of climate change, and hope that Bangladesh will continue to lead by example ahead of COP26 which is our best hope of building a brighter future,” he said.
Alok Sharma, who is also a British lawmaker, welcomed strong climate commitments from Bangladesh while he was travelling here from June 2 – 3 to strengthen support for UK COP26 climate priorities ahead of hosting the crucial UN climate change summit in Glasgow this November, a press release disseminated by the British High Commission here said on Saturday.
During the visit, Sharma held constructive discussions with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and other senior government representatives.
The COP president encouraged greater ambition on reducing Bangladesh’s coal pipeline and offered UK support for a clean energy transition with solutions such as offshore wind and integrating nature-based solutions into Bangladesh’s National Adaptation Plan.
Speaking with ministers and policy makers, Sharma welcomed the draft of Bangladesh’s Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan.
They explored how the UK and Bangladesh can work together to improve climate finance and drive action on locally-led adaptation, said the release.
As one of the countries, most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, Sharma saw the impacts on Bangladeshi agriculture, health and livelihoods, as increased flooding in both rural and urban areas is displacing people from their homes.
He heard about the prospect of Bangladesh transitioning away from coal to clean and renewable energy, which will create economic growth and sustainable jobs, and a commitment from Bangladesh to submit an ambitious updated nationally determined contribution (NDC) in the coming weeks, with a net zero target in the near future.
