A nature-based approach is the most effective way to tackle biodiversity loss, climate change and achieve sustainable development, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin said Thursday. Bangladesh has been putting efforts into achieving sustainable development goals, placing climate, nature and development at its heart, he said. The country has adopted a green growth strategy in its 8th Five Year Plan and Bangladesh Perspective Plan 2021-2041 to harmonise economic growth with environmental sustainability to create a climate-resilient nation, Shahab added. Read: Climate crisis no longer a looming crisis: Mia Seppo The minister made the remarks during the Fourth United Nations Environment Program Session of the Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of the Asia-Pacific held Thursday in South Korea, joining virtually from Dhaka. The government has adopted the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 to achieve a safe, climate-resilient and prosperous delta by ensuring long-term water and food security, economic growth, environmental sustainability while effectively reducing vulnerability to natural disasters and building resilience to climate change, Shahab said. To cut GHG emissions, Bangladesh has revised and submitted Enhanced Updated NDCs on August 26 this year, enhancing both the unconditional and conditional contributions with ambitious quantifiable mitigation targets, he added. Read: Bangladesh, UK issue collective call for ‘ambitious action’ against climate change Shahab Uddin said Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan 2030, finalised by Bangladesh, has recognised the co-benefits of maximising share of renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency, giving importance to climate-resilient nature-based approaches of development and due consideration on Locally Led Adaptation. The country is also working on implementing its sectoral policies and action plans like Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, Country Investment Plan on Environment, Forestry and Climate Change, Renewable Energy Roadmap, Plastic Waste Management Action Plan, the minister said. 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged governments, businesses and people everywhere to scale up efforts to conserve forests and forest species, and to support and listen to the voices of forest communities.

Humans are making Earth a broken and increasingly unlivable planet through climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. So the world must make dramatic changes to society, economics and daily life, a new United Nations report says.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for greater ambition to reverse biodiversity loss, reports Xinhua.