Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, has called for immediate, collaborative action and shared investments to address droughts and land degradation, aiming for a unified vision of climate resilience.

She urged the global community to accelerate climate action for both mitigation and adaptation, highlighting Bangladesh's vulnerability to climate change during her speech at the Ministerial Dialogue on Drought Resilience titled “From Geneva to Riyadh and Beyond: Enhancing Global and National Policy Instruments for a Proactive Drought Management Approach” on Monday.

The session took place as part of the ongoing United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Sixteenth Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

As a lower riparian country, Bangladesh underscored the importance of protecting shared river basins and international waters, adhering to principles of equity, no harm, and cooperation.

Rizwana pointed out that UN projections predict a 40 percent global water supply-demand gap by 2030 and called for the international legal recognition of the right to water and a collective commitment to safeguard this fundamental right.

She advocated for applying the precautionary principle in development, stressing the need for environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA), meaningful public engagement, and respect for community knowledge. Rizwana also called for enforceable regulations to manage water-intensive industries and agricultural practices sustainably.

Emphasising the significance of community participation, Rizwana highlighted the need to institutionalise the roles of farmers, forest dwellers, women, and indigenous communities in decision-making. She called for combining awareness with empowerment by providing communities with technology, financial support, and access to solutions.

In her closing remarks, the Environment Adviser urged the UNCCD to strengthen its role in facilitating technology transfers to support vulnerable nations. She called for strong political leadership and vision at both global and national levels to transform these commitments into action, emphasising the pivotal role of forums like COP16 in achieving these objectives.

Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed also attended the event.