The United States has assured of making Covid-19 vaccines available for other countries including Bangladesh once they have surplus. “I can assure you when we can reach the level of the critical mass vaccination and we’ve surplus, we’ll absolutely make vaccines available in whatever different ways,” said John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. While responding to a question at a joint briefing on Friday, Kerry said US President Joe Biden believes deeply that they have a responsibility - moral and practical - to bring the whole world back from this break. Also read: Make no mistake; take action: Kerry on dealing with climate crisis together He, however, said he cannot give the numbers and schedule but he can guarantee that there is a concerted effort to reach out globally to help all with this pandemic. “We all benefit by getting this pandemic conquered.”

John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, on Friday laid emphasis on taking action without taking any mistake to deal with the global climate crisis noting that the US administration is looking for greater collaboration with Bangladesh on the issue.    “So, we know from the scientists - we must all take action,” he said seeking joint efforts to protect the countries, citizens and the future generations as no single country can solve the climate crisis today. Kerry made the remarks at a joint media briefing at State guesthouse Padma after his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at the same venue. “We’ve the ability to work together now in order to bring technology, research, development and finance to the table to do what we know we must do,” he said. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin, Saber Hossain Chowdhy, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, Special Envoy for the Vulnerable Forum Presidency Abul Kalam Azad, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller were present.  The visit underscored the US commitment to strengthen implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change designed to limit global warming. Also read: US focuses on Myanmar issues; lauds Bangladesh's extraordinary generosity As part of the Paris outcome, developed countries were urged to scale up their level of support with a concrete roadmap to achieve the goal of mobilising US$100 billion per year for climate action in developing countries.

A group of young climate activists in Bangladesh have urged the US President Joe Biden's administration to take the genuine leadership role in global transition to a new clean-energy economy and provide finance and support for the climate losses and damages. The call was made by the YouthNet for Climate Justice, in a letter addressed to US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry with a request: "Use your wealth, built on fossil fuels, to help us develop renewable energy." Kerry arrived here on Friday morning to invite Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the virtual "Leaders' Summit on Climate", to be hosted by President Biden on 22-23 April. Also read: Kerry in Dhaka to convey Biden's commitment to environment The letter, signed by YouthNet's Founder & Coordinator Sohanur Rahman, was sent to the US Embassy in Bangladesh and the United States Office of Global Change at Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs via email at 10.40 pm on Thursday. In the letter, the group said that US public and private financiers, investors and technology suppliers must stop fossil fuel finance, investment and development to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in line with the Paris Agreement. The letter mentioned wealthy countries have fuelled the climate crisis through decades of willful negligence and inaction, yet have done very little to help the billions of people in developing countries who suffer the effects of the climate crisis. The US has historically contributed the most to the climate crisis, by its carbon emissions. It continues to be one of the biggest polluters.  The letter also reminded Kerry when he was brought his young granddaughter to the United Nations COP21 while signing the Paris Agreement as a symbol of protection of the future of the next generation.  And the letter reads: “We’re the generation that has to deal with more severe climate impacts than ever and are already bearing its brunt. Our children will face disasters at a scale we have never seen before. As young people from around the world, we demand an end to inaction on climate-induced loss and damage, which endangers our future.” "Based on your President’s commitment to taking meaningful climate action, the new US administration has the potential to mitigate some of this harm — if your country is willing to step up and provide finance and support for the climate loss and damage in our nations," the letter reads. Also read: Climate Change: Kerry discusses possible Bangladesh-US collaboration "In 2020, Super Cyclone Amphan, the most powerful storm to hit South Asia, devastated my country and parts of India, affecting 10 million people and causing an estimated $13 billion in damage.  By 2050, one in seven people will be displaced by the climate emergency in Bangladesh. People are already losing their homes to sea-level rise, cyclones, erosions, landslides, and flooding. Up to 18 million people will have to move by 2050 because of sea-level rise alone." “We don’t want empty promises from wealthy countries anymore. We want genuine leadership from the United States. The future of my country, of young people across the globe, is at stake,'' the letter mentions. According to the letter, "All fossil fuel infrastructure built by the United States affects vulnerable countries around the world. The U.S. needs to use its wealth built on fossil fuels to provide reparations to Bangladesh for renewable energy development and climate mitigation. It should also remove barriers for any technology transfer that will help Bangladesh cut down on its own use of fossil fuels. The U.S. must also use its position as a global superpower to influence other wealthy countries to do the same." The youth climate group welcomed Biden administration to rejoin to Paris Agreement and the decision to invite the Bangladesh Prime Minister to join the Leaders' Summit on Climate later this month. "The Paris Agreement was meant to be a global agreement to take urgent climate action. Unfortunately, this has yet to materialize in the way most thought it would. The Agreement does not adequately address the loss and damage suffered in the most affected areas," the letter further reads. Also read: Kerry invites Bangladesh to join US climate conference “We now are calling on the government of Bangladesh to enact a Green New Deal, keep coal and gas out of its energy transition plans, cancel all coal plant projects and use the land to kickstart new solar energy projects. But we know that for Bangladesh to build renewable energy infrastructure, it will need the support of developed countries like the United States — which is also influential on the international stage,'' the letter says.

John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, arrived in Dhaka on Friday morning to convey President Joe Biden's commitment to move forward "aggressively" to deal with the global climate crisis. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and his wife Selina Momen received Kerry upon his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:30am. US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl Miller was present.  Also read:Climate Challenge: Kerry due Friday to have discussions with ... Kerry, who arrived in Dhaka after wrapping up his four-day India 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 22-23 virtually. In India, Kerry said that the Paris Agreement recognises the global need to further empower women in climate decision-making. "That's why it was my pleasure to meet with women leaders driving climate action and the energy transition here in India," he tweeted.  In Dhaka, Kerry will meet representatives of 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.  Before his meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the afternoon, Kerry will meet Foreign Minister Dr Momen, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin and others.  Marcia Bernicat, US senior official for economic growth, energy and the environment, has said that Bangladesh’s leadership in addressing climate change offers the United States – and the world – a great partner to tackle this climate crisis.  Also read:Leaders Summit on Climate: Kerry due Apr 9 to invite PM Hasina 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. 

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.

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.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry have agreed that displacement due to climate change would be a vital security issue for everybody.