Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin said 113 adaptive actions have been identified in the National Adaptation Plan(NAP)to deal with 14 types of disasters by dividing Bangladesh into 11 regions. Of these, 80 are considered as high priority and 23 as medium priority actions.  The minister said these at a workshop titled 'Consultation Workshop on Dissemination and Brainstorming of NAP Implementation' organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the auditorium of the Department of Environment. “To implement the activities identified in the Adaptation Plan by 2050, we will need around US$230 billion,” he said. The workshop was presided over by the Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Farhina Ahmed.  Additional Secretary of Climate Change wing of the ministry Md. Moniruzzaman, Director General of Department of Environment Dr. Abdul Hamid and Professor Emeritus Dr. Ainun Nishat spoke at the workshop. Read more: Single-use plastic will be reduced by 90% within 2026: Environment Minister NAP was presented by Deputy Secretary(CC) Dharitri Kumar Sarkar and Director of DoE Mirza Shawkat Ali. The high officials present at the workshop placed their respective suggestions to implement NAP successfully. The Minister said that the plan submitted to the UNFCCC on October 31, 2022 is not only a national report but it will highlight the country’s position in the global arena in terms of climate adaptation. “This plan will be implemented by accepting everyone's valuable opinions. This National Adaptation Plan will be effective in adopting and implementing long-term integrated adaptation activities to combat climate change in Bangladesh,” he said. The National Adaptation Plan identifies specific adaptation needs for Bangladesh and appropriate strategies to implement them, he added. Shahab Uddin said that in addition to infrastructural development to deal with the impact of climate change, more emphasis will be given in increasing the adaptive capacity of people in vulnerable areas.  Adaptation activities identified in the National Adaptation Plan will be adopted and implemented through collective efforts to combat climate change impacts, the minister added.

The government of Bangladesh has taken a decision to provide bank loans on easy terms to those involved in producing environment-friendly bricks, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin said today (January 25, 2023). The environment minister said this while talking to reporters after a meeting with deputy commissioners at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. The meeting also discussed protecting forests and actions of DCs to combat climate change impacts, he said. He also sought assistance from the DCs in stopping hill cutting, deforestation, establishment of illegal brick fields and soil cutting. The DCs were asked to take legal steps in this regard. Read More: COP27: Bangladesh prioritises realisation of green climate fund, Environment Minister tells UNB Replying to a question on any proposal coming from DCs, the minister said there are only 50 offices under the Department of Environment (DoE) in the 50 districts while the ministry has no office in the rest 14 districts. He also assured of establishing offices in the 14 districts. Besides, the DCs have been asked to stop operation of illegal brick kilns as the government has taken an initiative to use environment-friendly bricks for government structures by 2025. “The more we can provide eco-friendly bricks, the more we can stop production of illegal brick kilns. If we are able to meet the demand with eco-friendly block bricks, the old illegal brick kilns can be stopped,” he said. Read More: 2022 was fifth or sixth warmest on record as Earth heats up

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahabuddin says Bangladesh played a strong and effective role on behalf of the countries most vulnerable to climate change at the recently concluded United Nations Climate Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt or COP27. Bangladesh made a strong call for achieving significant progress in the 'New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance' negotiations, with the aim of securing USD 100 billion per year until 2025 and securing long-term climate finance. The environment minister said these while addressing a workshop "27th World Climate Conference (COP 27): Expectations and Achievements and Future Action Plan" at the auditorium of the Department of Environment on Tuesday, as the chief guest. The minister said developed countries have been requested to double adaptation financing to developing countries by 2025.  Read more: COP27: How will UN climate deal on loss and damage work? Shahabuddin said 197 member states of the UNFCCC have reached a consensus on important issues including the adoption of the 'Sharm Al Sheikh Implementation Plan' on the morning of November 20 after long discussions.  The minister for environment said the conference decided to create a new fund to address "loss and damage" in the most vulnerable developing countries.   A 'Transitional Committee' has been set up for COP-28 to 'Operationalize' the Fund and fix its 'Detail Arrangements'. The minister also said that a decision has been taken to finalise 'Loss and Damage' in the conference, decide its host and form an advisory committee. Countries have agreed to take action on the 'Global Goals on Adaptation'.  He said that $230 million have been pledged to the 'Adaptation Fund'. Funding has been given importance for the implementation of NAP.   In addition, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced a $3.1 billion plan over the next five years to protect everyone on earth through early warning systems. The Minister of Environment said the "Sharm El Sheikh Implementation Plan" has been accepted with congratulations by all the countries of the world, including the decision to form a new fund to address "Loss and Damage" in the more vulnerable developing countries like Bangladesh, but its successful implementation will depend on its proper implementation.  Read more: COP27: Rich countries couldn’t agree yet on loss and damage funding for vulnerable nations With Dr Farhina Ahmed, secretary of the Ministry of Environment, in the chair at the programme, Deputy Minister for Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, and President of the standing committee on environment, forest and climate change Saber Hossain Chowdhury, among others, spoke as special guests.

The government has decided to ban the use of hydraulic horns in vehicles in the next two months to reduce noise pollution in the capital, said Environment Minister Shahab Uddin on Tuesday. “Today we have decided that the hydraulic horn will be completely banned by next December-January. We hope we will be able to ban it with your (journalists) cooperation,” he said at a press conference on the expectations and achievements of COP27 at the secretariat. Read more: COP27: Bangladesh prioritises realisation of green climate fund, Environment Minister tells UNB Shahab Uddin said meetings were held with those concerned including the drivers' association over noise pollution. Regarding the ban on polythene, he said they are taking action against those who produce polythene. To reduce the use of polythene, the ministry has taken a plan to produce ‘Sonali Bag’ from jute, he added. Read more: Double agricultural production by 2030 to ease climate change impacts, says Environment Minister “We will be able to stop the use of polythene when we can market Sonali Bag,” he added.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin has said that Bangladesh will urge the developed countries for $100 billion that they had promised to provide to the countries affected by climate change at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of The Parties, popularly called COP27. In an interview with UNB, the minister also said that Bangladesh expects the world leaders to implement Glasgow-Sharm El-Sheikh Work Program on The Global Goal on Adaptation at this year’s climate conference. COP27 is taking place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, from 6-18 November 2022 where Bangladesh is playing a crucial role as one of the top actors on behalf of the vulnerable countries that are desperate to get funds to tackle the impacts of climate change. “To implement the National Adaptation Plan prepared by the Bangladesh government, we need $230 billion till 2030. We hope that international organisations like the United Nations will help us execute the plan effectively,” Shahab said.  

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin on Monday said the government is committed to protecting the ozone layer that saves the people from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. “A national cooling plan with guidelines to curb the use of hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) is being formulated in Bangladesh,” he said. The Environment Minister was addressing a discussion arranged at the Department of Environment here in the city on the occasion of the International Ozone Day 2022. Read: National Adaptation Plan to make Bangladesh climate-resilient: Speakers This year, the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, 2022 was observed on September 16 last under the theme of ' the theme "Montreal [email protected]" and the worldwide collaboration safeguarding life on earth. Shahab Uddin said the government is implementing all the programs and projects taken to protect the Ozone layer in line with the Montreal Protocol in time with special importance. He said the works are now underway to phase out hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) used in air conditioning, firefighting and thermal foam sectors. Bangladesh is implementing the HCFC Phase-Out Management Plan-II to promote alternative technology that is friendly to ozone layer and climate, he said. “With the implementation of the plan, Bangladesh will be able to reduce the consumption of HCFCs by 67.50 percent by 2025,” the minister added. Deputy Minister for environment Habibun Nahar, environment secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed and Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh Stefan Liller spoke at the discussion presided over by Director General of the Department of Environment Dr Abdul Hamid, said a PID handout.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin has said Bangladesh is ahead of all Asian countries in doing what it takes to protect vultures, iconic birds of prey that are facing a countdown clock to extinction.   Vultures are highly skilled scavengers and often descend on a single carcass. However, their "impressive ability" to locate their meal also means that a single poisoned carcass can kill multiple birds, and "poisoning is the main reason for the group's catastrophic decline." The government banned the use of diclofenac, a pain reliever administered to cattle, in 2010. Vultures feeding on cattle carcasses used to die extremely painful deaths as the drug entered their system. Drugs such as nimesulide, aceclofenac and ketoprofen, which were meant to be alternatives to diclofenac, can also cause problems to the birds. Read: Elephant killings must be stopped: Environment Minister So, the government banned the use of ketoprofen. "After that, the use of the safer drugs meloxicam and tolfamenic acid started to increase, a big step in the protection of vultures," Shahab said. The minister was speaking at a discussion on International Vulture Awareness Day 2022 in Dhaka Saturday.   Shahab said the formation of the Bangladesh National Vulture Conservation Committee, the official declaration of two vulture safe zones and the ten-year (2016-2025) Bangladesh Vulture Conservation Action Plan are serving as a long-term framework for protecting Bangladesh's vultures.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin has tested positive for Covid-19. This is the second time that he has contracted the virus, earlier was in August 2020. The minister underwent RT-PCR test at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) on Wednesday as he had symptoms of the virus. The test result emerged positive, his Ministry said in a statement. Read: State Minister Khalid, wife contract Covid The minister is in isolation at his official residence, the Ministry said. The Environment Minister was admitted to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) from August 12-20 in 2020 with Covid.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin MP is leading the Bangladesh delegation at the two-day "COP26 July Ministerial" that began on Sunday in the United Kingdom (UK). Shahab Uddin is expected to highlight Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s priorities at the COP26 as a state party to the UNFCCC and also as the President of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF). Read:COP26: Young people urged to raise voice to save planet The UK-hosted July Ministerial is aimed to give an opportunity for the Environment Ministers of the state parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to come together in person to discuss their expectations for a successful COP26 scheduled in Glasgow this year from 1-12 November.  Shahab Uddin reached London on Saturday afternoon on an official visit to the United Kingdom (UK).  Read: Dhaka, London hopeful of signing climate accord before COP26 Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem received the Minister at the London Heathrow International airport. Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Director General, Department of Environment are accompanying the Minister during his visit to attend the COP26 July Ministerial organized by the United Kingdom. 

The government has undertaken a project involving the general people to bring down noise pollution to a tolerable level, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin said Thursday.