DHAKA, July 10, 2019 – The Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change organized a two-day long Global Commission on Adaptation in Dhaka from 9-10 July 2019 at Hotel Inter Continent, Grand Ballroom, and Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Honorable Prime Minister H.E. Sheikh Hasina, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has inaugurated the program as Chief Guest. Marshal Islands President H.E. Hon’ble Hilda C. Heine, former United Nations Secretary-General and Global Commission on Adaptation Chairman H.E. Ban Ki-moon and World Bank Chief Executive Officer Ms. Kristalina Georgieva were present as Special Guests.
Mr. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of COAST Trust and Chairperson of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication has briefed to H. E. hon’ble Sheikh Hasina, H. E. Ban Ki – moon and Marshal Island President Ms. Hilda C. Heine and World Bank Executive Director Ms. Christilina about role of community radio in climate adaptation process at coastal areas of Bangladesh in line with Community Climate Airwaves through Community Radio on 10th July 2019.
Mr, Chowdhury told that to the Hon’ble PM regarding Eight coastal community radio stations are broadcasting altogether 60 hours program per day on information, education, local entertainment, and development motivation activities. Around 80 youth women & youth are now working with those Stations throughout the coastal areas as a coastal community broadcaster. He has shown a coastal community radio station map from Satkhira to Cox’s Bazer of coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh.
Community Radio Meghna 99.00 and initiating organization COAST Trust in Bangladesh has been set up an exhibition stall in the program with the invitation from Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh with the theme of Community Climate Airwaves through Community Radio. Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication has published a special newsletter on Community Climate Airwaves under the project of Community-led initiatives for climate justice and resilience in the islands and coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh with the support from COAST Trust. [ For News Letter, Please visit the link: ]
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DVJ9bP_ZgBVNx6Pn96wRr6_PkLLTXjsi/view
Marshal Islands President H.E. Hilda C. Heine, former United Nations Secretary-General and incumbent Global Commission on Adaptation Chairman H.E. Ban Ki-moon were present as Special Guests. World Bank Chief Executive Officer Kristalina Georgieva was present at the function.
In her speech Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today sought global leaders’ enhanced awareness about the climate change phenomenon and their effective initiatives to negate its impacts.
“I request all for their awareness and respective responsibility to fight the adverse impacts of climate change,” she said while inaugurating a two-day Dhaka Meeting of the Global Commission on Adaptation.
The prime minister also urged the world community to put more emphasis on research and investment on this issue as the climate change is fast impacting on agriculture, life, and livelihood.
Speaking on the occasion, the three dignitaries highly praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her extraordinary leadership to lead the world to address the adverse impacts of climate change from the forefront.
Hailing Bangladesh’s initiatives and strategies to fight the climate change impacts, Ban Ki-moon said “Of Course we are here to learn from Bangladesh—. When comes to adaptation; Bangladesh is the best teacher to learn about
adaptation.”
Wishing a complete success of the Dhaka Meeting of GCA, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said “This is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate our own strategies to adapt to climate change, build resilience as well as offer to
share our knowledge and experience with you.”
“We are eagerly waiting to see the recommendations of the flagship report next September at the time of the climate change summit called by the secretary-general of the United Nations where I, on behalf of Bangladesh and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), have been invited to speak,” she said.
Bangladesh is expecting to take advantage of the best adaptation practices, most cost-effective solutions and risk reduction with the help of the Global Commission on Adaptation, she said.
The premier said that being a leading country of Adaptation, Bangladesh deserves to have a Regional Adaption Centre here.
Highlighting her government frantic efforts to effectively fight the climate change, she said “We are working relentlessly to overcome our vulnerabilities and create adaptation measures for the people. Over the last decade, we have spent on an average of around US$ 1 billion annually for adapting to climate change impacts.”
Furthermore, to achieve climate resilience, the government created a dedicated Climate Change Trust Fund in 2009 and so far, more than US$ 420 million have been allocated from own resources to the fund for both adaptation and mitigation programs, she informed.
“We have designed project titled ‘Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100’ for combating climate change,” the prime minister also said.
Considering the adverse impacts of climate change, Sheikh Hasina said her government is currently constructing more 378 Mujib Kellas, 3,868 multi-purpose cyclone shelters across the coastal districts and planning to build 1,650 more shelters gradually.
She said, “Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman showed the path of climate adaptation by building 172 Mujib Kellas (Cyclone Shelters) in the coastal areas”.
“We have taken initiatives to increase tree coverage from 22% to 24% in the next five years. So far Bangladesh has created 0.2 million hectares of coastal forests as shelterbelt to protect from tidal surges and calamities.
Bangladesh is also successfully managing 601,700 hectares of Sundarbans Mangrove forest,” the premier said.
Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin also spoke on the occasion.