COP26
Dhaka, London hopeful of signing climate accord before COP26
Bangladesh and the United Kingdom are planning to sign a "climate accord" before COP26 and expressed optimism for a successful outcome of the COP26 with a possible CVF-COP26 event at Glasgow.
The two countries agreed to work together to put nature at the heart of their climate action, building on the 2020 Leaders’ Pledge for Nature and realising shared commitments towards conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as those under the Global Ocean Alliance and the Commonwealth Blue Charter.
As founding members of the Adaptation Action Coalition, Bangladesh and the UK renewed their commitment to work together with other Coalition members to accelerate adaptation on the ground with a particular emphasis on promoting locally led climate action, according to a joint statement issued on Thursday.
The two countries will do more to avert, minimise, and address Loss and Damage, said the joint statement on climate action between the two countries.
Bangladesh and the UK will work together to get the network operating, following the UK-led Climate and Development Ministerial and drawing on the expertise in the UK, Bangladesh and internationally.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma met on Wednesday during the visit of COP26 President-designate to Bangladesh on June 2-4.
Also read: COP26: Alok Sharma pledges support for Bangladesh towards clean energy transition
They jointly reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom in tackling climate change’s causes and adverse effects. They agreed to demonstrate sustained leadership to tackle the climate emergency bilaterally and globally.
The two countries agreed to exchange expertise, share technology, facilitate partnerships, and identify practical solutions to common climate challenges.
COP26: Alok Sharma pledges support for Bangladesh towards clean energy transition
Appreciating Bangladesh’s adaptation and resilience, COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma on Wednesday pledged to help Bangladesh having a “clean energy transition”.
“We can work together to make sure that it is not just the public finance but also private finance that is coming into Bangladesh,” he told reporters in a joint media briefing at Foreign Service Academy.
Responding to a question, Sharma said he discussed the coal power issue during his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen noting that he raised the issue not just in Bangladesh but around the world.
Read:We expect UK to promote interests of climate vulnerable countries: Hasina
He laid emphasis on alternative sources of energy – clean energy – if the dependency on coal power is cut globally.
To supplement, Foreign Minister Dr Momen said they are scaling down some of the coal power industries as part of reducing dependency on coal power.
“We planned to have around 40 percent renewable energy by 2041. We’ll be looking for more renewable energy and we’re asking for technology to support renewable energy,” he said.
Bangladesh is among the fast growing economies with significant renewable energy potential, said the UK government.
Responding to a question on US$ 100 billion climate fund for developing countries, Sharma said the donor and developed countries need to step up noting that it is a matter of trust and it is very important they deliver on it.
He appreciated Bangladesh’s leadership in terms of adaptation and resilience saying they saw a very limited damage during recent cyclones due to Bangladesh’s works done to that front.
Sharma expressed satisfaction over private sector’s interest towards clean energy transition but they want long-term policy and clear regulations from all governments around the world.
Read: COP26: Alok Sharma discusses climate issues with FM
On the Sundarbans, he said they want to see further protection given to areas such as mangroves. “I am looking forward to the visit tomorrow (Thursday) there.”
Dr Momen said they want to save the planet. “We’re capable of doing it if there’s strong partnership and collaboration.”
COP26: Alok Sharma discusses climate issues with FM
Visiting COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma on Wednesday met Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and discussed priority issues on climate front.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam, among others, attended the meeting.
Read: Alok Sharma in city to discuss climate issues ahead of COP26
Earlier, the State Minister received Sharma at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 09.20am upon his arrival.
He is also scheduled to attend "UK- Bangladesh Climate Partnership Roundtable" at 2pm at Foreign Service Academy before holding a joint briefing at 3pm.
Read:COP26 President-Designate Sharma due Wednesday to discuss climate issues
During his engagements in Dhaka, Sharma will discuss shared priorities with Bangladesh which remains a "crucial" partner on the road to COP26.
He is on a two-day visit to strengthen support for UK COP26 climate priorities ahead of hosting the crucial UN climate change summit in Glasgow this November.
COP26 President-designate Sharma to visit Bangladesh this week
COP26 President-designate Alok Sharma will visit Bangladesh this week to discuss shared priorities as Bangladesh is considered one of the "crucial" partners on the road to COP26.
He will also travel to Viet Nam and Indonesia as part of his South East Asia and South Asia tour to strengthen support for UK COP26 climate priorities ahead of hosting the key UN climate change summit in Glasgow this November.
With less than six months to go before COP26, he will meet with leaders from government, business and civil society to press his personal priority for a move to global clean power, critical to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C.
Viet Nam, Indonesia and Bangladesh are fast-growing economies with significant renewable energy potential, said the UK government announcing his tri-nation visit.
The visit will highlight their growing leadership and how the UK Presidency will work with countries to support workers and communities to make the transition to good green jobs.
It builds on the recent Climate and Environment Ministerial meeting where, under the UK’s leadership, G7 nations agreed to end all new direct government support for international coal power, and to increase support for clean energy alternatives like solar and wind.
UK lauds Hasina's leadership on climate front
The United Kingdom has commended Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) during the lead up to the UNFCCC COP26 scheduled for November 2021 in Glasgow.
British State Minister for Foreign Affairs for South Asia, the Commonwealth and the UN Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon recalled the leadership of Hasina during a recent virtual meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam.
Lord Ahmad took interest in hearing about Bangladesh’s priorities for COP26, including in its capacity as the representative for the climate vulnerable countries.
Also read: Bangladesh, US to work together to address challenges of climate change
He underscored the importance of protecting the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, from the adverse impacts of climate change.
State Minister Alam briefed his UK counterpart about the recent visit to Bangladesh by the US Special Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry.
He invited Lord Ahmad to visit Bangladesh during the Mujib Year, also in connection with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and the UK.
Also read: Hasina's leadership to ‘amplify calls for decisive action’ on climate front
The two State Ministers discussed the latest international travel restrictions imposed in the wake of the renewed spike in corona virus infections, especially from the South African variant.
State Minister Alam urged the UK to take Bangladesh off the red list at the earliest based on factual evidence.
The two State Ministers exchanged views on the situation of the Rohingya in Bangladesh. They discussed the current impasse over their voluntary repatriation to Myanmar and their partial relocation to Bhashan Char.
Also read: Make no mistake; take action: Kerry on dealing with climate crisis together
Lord Ahmad assured his Bangladesh counterpart of the UK’s continued support on the question of the Rohingya’s safe and dignified return to Myanmar.
The two Ministers also discussed preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) expected to be held physically in June 2021 in Kigali, Rwanda.
At the outset, State Minister Alam expressed deep condolences at the demise of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and consort of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
Climate Challenge: Kerry due Friday to have discussions with Bangladesh
John Kerry, the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, is scheduled to arrive here on Friday on a brief visit during which Bangladesh will convey its priority issues on the climate front.
Kerry, now in India on a four-day visit, will hand over the US President’s invitation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in person to attend the "Leaders Summit on Climate" to be held on April 22 and 23 virtually.
Kerry is looking forward to "meaningful discussions" with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and others during his stay in Dhaka on how to tackle the climate crisis.
"In Dhaka, Special Presidential Envoy Kerry will meet representatives from the government of Bangladesh and key development and international partners," a State Department spokesperson told UNB.
As the president of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and the Vulnerable Twenty Group of Finance Ministers, the spokesperson said, Bangladesh plays a leading role in combating climate change.
Also read: Leaders Summit on Climate: Kerry due Apr 9 to invite PM Hasina
Marcia Bernicat, US senior official for economic growth, energy and the environment, has said Bangladesh’s leadership in addressing climate change offers the United States – and the world – a great partner to tackle this climate crisis.
As president of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and the Vulnerable Twenty Group of Finance Ministers, she said, Bangladesh can make irreplaceable contributions towards a successful COP26.
As a climate vulnerable country, Bernicat said, Bangladesh will require significant climate adaptation and resilience, especially in view of its increasingly ambitious climate goals.
US companies are well placed to deliver many of the solutions Bangladesh will need to sustainably grow its economy, she said.
“Yes, we’re happy that he’s coming. We worked with him before, too,” Foreign Minister Dr Momen told UNB.
Also read: Climate-induced displacement a vital security issue for all: Kerry
US President Joe Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Prime Minister Hasina, to the “Leaders' Summit on Climate” that he will host. The virtual summit will be live-streamed for public viewing.
The “Leaders Summit on Climate” will underscore the urgency – and the economic benefits – of stronger climate action. It will be a key milestone on the road to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) this November in Glasgow.
“We’ll be happy to convey our priority issues. We’ll also share the steps that Bangladesh has taken so far,” Dr Momen said.
He said Bangladesh believes that adaptation is not enough and there has to be mitigation and Bangladesh needs support as promised by others. “It should be Kerry’s special target.”
Dr Momen said Bangladesh did not create the problem and those responsible countries should share responsibility of rehabilitating and protecting people from the river erosions.
Also read: Kerry invites Bangladesh to join US climate conference
President Biden has emphasised the challenge of climate change, stating, “The United States and the world face a profound climate crisis and by placing climate change at the centre of our foreign policy, diplomacy, and national security.”
During his recent meeting with Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry, Dr Momen discussed the global issue of climate change, and the possible US-Bangladesh collaboration in this connection.
The Foreign Minister recollected the vital contribution of Kerry towards the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and welcomed the decision of the US to return to the Paris Agreement.
He described various actions taken by the government of Bangladesh under the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on mitigation, adaptation and resilience.
Dr Momen also briefed John Kerry on all current and future activities of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) regional office in Dhaka.
Also read: Climate Change: Kerry discusses possible Bangladesh-US collaboration
Kerry recognised the extraordinary challenges faced by Bangladesh due to climate change and frequent natural disasters.
Agreeing that the international financial institutions could do more for the issue of climate change, he also opined that displacement due to climate change would be a vital security issue for everybody.
They agreed to work closely in the COP26 and other multilateral platforms in order to fulfil commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement and even go beyond Paris.
President Biden took action on his first day in office to return the US to the Paris Agreement.
Days later, on January 27, he announced that he would soon convene a leaders’ summit to galvanise efforts by the major economies to tackle the climate crisis.
PM calls for unity in war against nature
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon all to remain united in the war against nature to avert a possible loss for mankind.
“In our war against nature, we’ll lose unless we unite,” she wrote in the renowned magazine Diplomat in its April 2021 issue.
In the write up – ‘Forging Dhaka-Glasgow CVF-COP26 Solidarity’ – she said that humans are consciously destroying the very support systems that are keeping us alive.
“What planet shall we leave for the Greta Thunbergs or those at the Bangladesh Coastal Youth Action Hubs? At COP26 we must not fail them,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina, currently the president of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), said, we want to see climate financing unleashed, not only towards low-carbon economy, but also for the promised US$100 billion, and 50 percent dedicated to climate resilience-building.
Also read: Leaders Summit on Climate: Kerry due Apr 9 to invite PM Hasina
“We want to see international carbon markets unlocked for transnational climate cooperation and solutions found to our profound loss, damage and climate injustice,” she added.
She mentioned that the CVF represents over one billion of the world’s most vulnerable communities, whose very survival is threatened by the slightest sea level rise, frequent hurricanes or rapid desertification.
In this connection, she said that for Bangladesh, often referred to as the ‘ground zero’ of natural disasters, climate change is a survival battle braved by millions of our resilient people whose homes, lands and crops are lost to the recurring wrath of nature.
Every year, 2% of country’s GDP is lost to extreme climate events. By the turn of the century, it will be 9%. By 2050, more than 17% of its coastlines will go underwater displacing 30 million.
Six million Bangladeshis have already become climate displaced. And yet the country continues to bear the 1.1 million Rohingyas from Myanmar at the cost of environmental havoc in Cox’s Bazar.
“Who will pay for this loss and damage?” She asked.
Also read: Climate adaptation: Bangladesh for making finance more accessible
The Prime Minister wrote that like Bangladesh, every CVF nation has an irreversible climate loss and damage story to tell.
“But they contributed little to global emissions. It is time to address this climate injustice.”
She said that international cooperation on climate had been de-prioritised by the US for several years. International climate finance was falling far short of the $100 billion pledged at Paris.
“The G-20, accounting for nearly 80 per cent of global emissions lacked the political will to finance transactional carbon markets to support low-carbon projects in vulnerable countries. Loss and damage remained a far cry.”
And then, she said, COVID-19 hit us like a bolt from the blue, triggering the triple perils of climate, health and nature. A rude awakening finally forced the world to heed to my warning that the climate crisis is indeed an emergency.
And any recovery had to be green, nature-based and resilient. Therefore, my first act as CVF President was to declare climate change a ‘planetary emergency’ and call upon all to be on a ‘war footing’ to arrest global temperature rise at 1.5 degrees.
Also read: Bangladesh with Maldives in fighting climate change: PM
“By Autumn 2020, I’d seen very few NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions), and COP26 was postponed, so I launched the ‘Midnight Survival Deadline for the Climate’ initiative at the CVF Leaders’ Summit,” Sheikh Hasina said.
She said that US President Joe Biden’s returning to the Paris treaty was also inspiring.
“But those who failed to meet CVF’s midnight-deadline, I urge them, to submit ambitious NDCs ahead of COP26. CVF’s most vulnerable members pledged no less than a net-zero by 2030, including Barbados, Costa Rica and the Maldives.”
Talking about Bangladesh, she wrote that Bangladesh, the CVF member with the largest population, also submitted interim NDC updates with additional pledges over and above Paris to reduce methane emissions. For Bangladesh and the CVF, climate adaptation and financing is a prime ‘survival’ priority as we relentlessly struggle to protect our populations from recurrent extreme climate events.
“Realistically, my climate survival philosophy has been a common sense one. ‘Help thy self’ and wait for no one to rescue. Because, climate change is not going to spare us for our inactions.”
As a testament to this, she said, she had long championed locally-led adaptation and resilience-building at the heart of which are local actors, especially women and youth.
In 2020, when Category-5 Cyclone Amphan mercilessly hit Bangladesh and India, Bangladesh demonstrated its capability to evacuate 2.4 million people and half-a-million livestock to safety in less than five days.
Also read: Climate change: Hasina seeks more actions than words
That same year, two-thirds of Bangladesh went under water in flash floods during the pandemic.
Even though this double jeopardy cost $3.5 billion in GDP losses, disaster preparedness of Bangladesh saved millions of lives.
She said that Bangladesh has also learnt to self-finance its climate projects. The government has thus created a $450 million Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund that supports nearly 800 adaptation and resilience projects in its vulnerable coasts.
“We are spending on an average 2.5 per cent of our GDP – US$5billion each year – on climate adaptation and resilience-building.”
She said that Bangladesh built 16.4km of sea dykes, 12,000 cyclone shelters and 200,000 hectares of coastal plantation.
The scientists invented nature-based solutions for the country’s coastal communities, such as salinity and stress tolerant crops, rain reservoirs and pond-sand-filters, floating agriculture technology and mobile water treatment plants.
In Bangladesh, the Prime Minister wrote, we are now championing climate prosperity. By pioneering the ‘Mujib Climate Prosperity Decade 2030,’ named after Bangladesh’s Founding Father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during his birth centenary, I have called CVF nations to initiate ‘climate prosperity plans.’ We have already planted 11.5 million trees under our plan.
These are strategic, low carbon investment frameworks integrated into national development plans for capturing our growth and prosperity. But the CVF can only do so much on its own.
“There is a limit to adaptation too!” she said.
“It is vital to build strong CVF-COP solidarity. We want to see a Dhaka-Glasgow-CVF-COP26 Declaration emerge from November’s meeting. We, the climate vulnerable nations want to see G20 submit ambitious NDCs before COP26.”
Calls for immediate action to tackle climate change
By Dominic Raab
Across the world people are increasingly facing extreme weather – from life-threatening flooding and droughts, to catastrophic wildfires. Climate change is an emergency happening now and it is being compounded by Covid-19 – with the impacts most severe in developing countries.
In the UK’s role as President of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), which we are hosting in Glasgow in November, we are working with impacted countries to put their voices at the centre of decision-making.
That’s why we hosted a Climate and Development Ministerial meeting on 31 March with many of the countries worst affected by climate change – including Bangladesh, bringing them together with donor countries and international organisations to discuss practical, real world solutions. Now is the time for action – as the world prepares for COP26 and strives to fight the pandemic.
We now have a real opportunity to reshape our economies, ensuring they can withstand the effects of climate change and support sustainable jobs and growth. The scale of the opportunity is clear. By boosting investment in renewable energy, like wind and solar power, we have seen the number of jobs in the sector quadruple, from around 10 million today to 42 million globally by 2050. Off-grid solar power alone supports over 350,000 jobs across East, West and Central Africa, and South Asia, with the potential to increase to 1.3 million in the next two years.
So the question that I have been putting to my counterparts in countries facing the worst of climate change is “what support do you need to recover and respond to climate change?” Their response is clear: more climate finance and easier access to it, help with rising debt levels caused by the economic consequences of Covid-19, and greater support to adapt to the effects of climate change.
In each of these areas, the UK is leading the response. We have committed £11.6 billion during the next five years in climate finance and, through our Presidencies of COP26 and the G7, we are urging others to follow our lead. We are working closely with the G7, G20 and the sustainable creditor partners, the Paris Club, to agree an unprecedented response to alleviate the debt burden. The G20 scheme that we helped launch last year has suspended repayments from the most vulnerable countries worth $5.7 billion.
While we must focus on stopping further global warming, we must also act now to adapt to the impacts of climate change and address loss and damage. That is why, during the past decade, the UK has supported 66 million people around the world as they endure the damaging effects of the climate change emergency.
The Climate and Development Ministerial sent an urgent message to the world that action is needed now. If we are going to stop further catastrophic impacts for us all, we must limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees – but that will only be possible if all nations come forward with ambitious plans.
So, when the world gathers in Glasgow in November, we must ensure that we are all doing what is needed to turn back the dial on climate change, lay the foundations for a green recovery, and secure a brighter future for us all. That is our urgent, shared mission – and the concerns of the most climate-vulnerable nations must be at its heart.
Dominic Raab MP is the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Leaders Summit on Climate: Kerry due Apr 9 to invite PM Hasina
John Kerry, the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on April 9 on a daylong visit during which Bangladesh will convey its priority issues to him on the climate front.
“Yes, we’re happy that he’s coming. We worked with him before, too,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told UNB on Wednesday.
Kerry will hand over the invitation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in person to attend the "Leaders Summit on Climate" to be held on April 22 and 23, Dr Momen said.
US President Joe Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Prime Minister Hasina, to the summit that he will host. The virtual summit will be live-streamed for public viewing.
The “Leaders Summit on Climate” will underscore the urgency – and the economic benefits – of stronger climate action. It will be a key milestone on the road to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) this November in Glasgow.
“We’ll be happy to convey our priority issues. We’ll also share the steps that Bangladesh has taken so far,” Dr Momen said.
Also read: Strict implementation of Paris deal only way forward for sustainable future: Dhaka
He said Bangladesh believes that adaptation is not enough and there has to be mitigation and Bangladesh needs support as promised by others. “It should be Kerry’s special target.”
Dr Momen said Bangladesh did not create the problem and those responsible countries should share responsibility of rehabilitating and protecting people from the river erosions.
During his recent meeting with Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry, the foreign minister discussed the global issue of climate change, and the possible US-Bangladesh collaboration in this connection.
The Foreign Minister recollected the vital contribution of Kerry towards the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and welcomed the decision of the US to return to the Paris Agreement.
He described various actions taken by the Government of Bangladesh under the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Hasina on mitigation, adaptation and resilience.
Dr Momen also briefed John Kerry on all current and future activities of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) regional office in Dhaka.
Also read: John Kerry chosen as Biden’s climate tsar
Kerry recognised the extraordinary challenges faced by Bangladesh due to climate change and frequent natural disasters.
Agreeing that the international financial institutions could do more for the issue of climate change, he also opined that displacement due to climate change would be a vital security issue for everybody.
They agreed to work closely in the COP26 and other multilateral platforms in order to fulfil commitments under the Paris climate agreement and even go beyond Paris.
President Biden took action on his first day in office to return the US to the Paris Agreement.
Days later, on January 27, he announced that he would soon convene a leaders’ summit to galvanise efforts by the major economies to tackle the climate crisis.
Climate adaptation: Bangladesh for making finance more accessible
Bangladesh has sought support from the UK and other developed countries to ensure concessional finance and access to technology for all developing countries, and LDCs, especially due to the unprecedented socio-economic impacts of Covid-19.