The recently developed draft National Adaptation Plan (NAP) has proposed 110 interventions to turn Bangladesh into a climate-resilient country.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change organised a workshop on Saturday as part of NAP validation process.
The Ministry is implementing the Formulation and Advancement of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) in Bangladesh project with support from UNDP and funded by the Green Climate Fund.
The draft NAP has been developed based on the opinions and feedback from the stakeholders, including the climate-vulnerable people, communities, individuals, women, youth, public officials and climate change experts, said UNDP.
More than 30 consultations took place at the national, divisional, district and upazila levels in 11 climate stress areas in the most climate-vulnerable regions across Bangladesh.
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NAP identified 14 climate hazards that include extreme temperature, erratic rainfall, riverine flood, riverbank erosion, drought, cyclone and storm surge, sea-level rise, salinity intrusion, flash flood, landslide, cold snap, lightning, urban flood and ocean acidification.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin was present as the chief guest while Deputy Minister Habibun Nahar, Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on the ministry Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Van Nguyen were present as special guests at the event chaired by Secretary of the ministry Md Mostafa Kamal.
Dr Ainun Nishat, Professor Emeritus, made a presentation on adaptation strategies and interventions, while Malik Fida A Khan presented the draft NAP.
Shahab Uddin said they will seriously consider the opinions of the stakeholders in finalising the NAP. “For successful implementation of the NAP, the capacity enhancement will be our priority among others – our ministry will work closely with all the public and private institutions in the NAP process.”
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Van Nguyen said, “I am hopeful that NAP will strategise sustainable adaptation solutions for Bangladesh and mainstream it in the national development planning”.
She expressed her high hope that Bangladesh will leverage domestic and international financing options for its successful implementation.
Saber Hossain said, “Bangladesh does not have any risk index, which is critically important for designing sustainable resilience plan. We also need to develop country risk profile”.
“Furthermore, we must have a clear picture of the benefits against adaptation investment”, he added.