Times24.net: Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday called for stronger global action on climate justice, climate finance and adaptation support, saying vulnerable countries such as Bangladesh bear severe climate impacts despite contributing little to global emissions. “Bangladesh expects stronger global action at COP31 on climate justice, climate finance and adaptation support,” Tarique Rahman told the General Debate of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh was among the countries most vulnerable to climate change and was strengthening measures to build resilience and protect the environment.
As part of those efforts, Tarique Rahman said the government had launched a five-year programme to plant 250 million trees and was placing greater emphasis on clean and solar energy.
Tarique Rahman said the government had also launched a programme to excavate and re-excavate around 20,000 kilometres of rivers, canals and other waterways to improve water management and reduce the impact of floods and droughts.
Tarique Rahman said the government was advancing the Teesta Master Plan and Padma Barrage initiative as part of efforts to strengthen water security, conserve freshwater and increase freshwater flow towards the Sundarbans.
Tarique Rahman also stressed the importance of cooperation in managing transboundary waters.
Bangladesh has strengthened domestic measures on water conservation and pollution prevention and reaffirmed its commitment to transboundary water cooperation by joining the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, Tarique Rahman said.
Tarique Rahman concluded by reaffirming Bangladesh’s commitment to the principles and values of the United Nations and to international efforts for peace and sustainable development.
