Bangladesh and France have agreed to combine their efforts to ensure a result-oriented COP28 in Dubai this year.
The two countries shared the expectation to chart a course at COP28 towards an urgent transition to a climate resilient world, including through investments in renewable and clean energy.
They reiterated the necessity to accelerate the global energy transition away from fossil fuels, and to set and meet ambitious targets for renewable energy production and energy efficiency around the world, while ensuring that this transition is just and equitable.
Bangladesh has also invited France to jointly explore ventures in leveraging marine resources in the Bay of Bengal in a sustainable manner.
They welcomed the adoption of the Agreement under UNCLOS on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction in August 2023.
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France reiterated its aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and move away from its dependency on fossil fuels, while Bangladesh underscored the need for a sustained collaborative approach to support its energy transition efforts through access to affordable finances and technologies.
Bangladesh and France observed that climate change and supply chain disruptions are having a disastrous toll on food sovereignty, food security and nutrition worldwide, according to a joint statement released following French President Emmanuel Macron's September 10-11 visit to Bangladesh.
The two countries agreed to strengthen their cooperation in sustainable and resilient food and agriculture systems in support of food security through regular dialogues.
In this regard, France appreciated Bangladesh joining the Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission (FARM) initiative led by France.
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Bangladesh deeply appreciated France’s development cooperation support in various areas, e.g. from water treatment to clean energy, from urban development to inclusive health services, featuring climate-oriented projects.
A $200 million financing agreement was signed on Monday with the French Agency for Development alongside the government of Bangladesh and the Asian Development Bank to support the urban development of more than 86 municipalities across Bangladesh.
Bangladesh and France believe in the strength of bilateral and international cooperation in the face of the climate emergency.
Following up on the Paris Summit for a New Global Finance Pact, whose recommendations Bangladesh endorses, Bangladesh and France jointly called for the swift implementation of the Paris Pact for People and the Planet and for the mobilization of additional financing from all sources for development, climate and biodiversity.
Both countries recognized the need for a more inclusive governance of the global financing architecture, following four key principles: ensuring that no country should have to choose between fighting poverty and conserving the planet; guaranteeing country ownership of transition strategies; delivering a financial stimulus with enhanced and predictable resources to support vulnerable economies; and mobilising additional private capital to achieve a net-zero and nature-positive world.
Bangladesh and France believe global efforts to facilitate access to climate finance for developing countries should be accelerated further.
France will continue to support vulnerable countries in facing extreme events and responding to loss and damage, including through the V20-G7 Global Shield against Climate Risks of which Bangladesh is a priority country, and through the further implementation of climate-resilient debt clauses.
Bangladesh and France support the operationalization of the new funding arrangements, including a fund for assisting developing countries vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in responding to loss and damage.
France reasserted its will to support the aspirations of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, in particular by promoting the use of the notion of vulnerability and fine-tuning it towards resilience and prosperity in all relevant fora, including multilateral development banks.
Bangladesh and France stressed the importance of the crucial ecosystem services provided by forests and wetlands and committed to deepening their cooperation to conserve and expand Bangladesh’s rich mangroves that are vital reserves of both biodiversity and carbon.
France appreciated Bangladesh’s continued efforts in conserving its mangrove forest in the southwest region and the biodiversity therein.
Bangladesh and France are also determined to step up their joint efforts ahead of the UN conference on Oceans, co-chaired by France and Costa Rica, to be held in Nice in 2025.