Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Thursday said they are thinking of lasting solutions for climate change issues to ensure sustainable development alongside short and medium-term strategies for macroeconomic stability.
“These strategies are elaborated in Delta Plan and Mujib climate Prosperity Plan. Moreover, Bangladesh Bank is working on the impact of climate change on the financial sector,” he said, while placing the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 in Parliament.
In order to strengthen green and climate resilient development in public investment management, new rules are being formulated and necessary amendments are being made to the existing rules, said the finance minister.
The Delta Wing is going to be established to facilitate the implementation of the Delta Plan and necessary guidance is being provided through the Local Government Division for formulation, financing and implementation of climate resilient and green local plans.
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He said the government has adopted the 'Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP)' policy to encourage environmentally and socially sustainable business and investment.
With a view to ensuring clean, efficient and climate resilient investment, the government has reformed the process of environmental clearance by issuing the Environmental Conservation Rules, 2023 thereby ensuring environmental and social impact evaluation and reducing adverse impact of industrial units of projects, the finance minister said.
The 'Control of Air Pollution Rules, 2022' has been promulgated to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The government has issued revised Energy Efficiency and Conservation Rules, 2023, with provision for publication of annual energy consumption reports for the purpose of energy saving in industries, businesses and households.
It has been made mandatory for all ministries to include disaster risk and impact assessment in the design of projects worth more than Tk 50 crore, said the finance minister.