CT News Online
As the climate crisis mirrors the
unpredictable and fast-flowing waters of the Padma River, the response to this
emergency remains sluggish, particularly in the realms of mitigation, finance,
and adaptation.
This
observation comes from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, as expressed in an opinion
piece for Context, a Thomson Reuters Foundation media platform.
Prime
Minister Hasina emphasizes the importance of making significant progress in
these areas at COP28. Key objectives include maintaining the 1.5C warming
limit, ensuring the Global Stocktake results in heightened ambition, and the
urgent mobilization of finance, especially for vulnerable countries like
Bangladesh, she writes.
Bangladesh,
while contributing only 0.47% of global emissions, ranks as the seventh most
vulnerable nation to climate change. The country has endured the consequences
of rising emissions for decades, evidenced by soaring temperatures above 40
degrees, severe heatwaves, power outages, school closures, and devastating
floods that claimed 55 lives and displaced thousands in August alone, according
to the PM.
The nation
has proactively invested in adapting to climate change while pursuing economic
growth. The Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan outlines a transformative strategy
towards climate resilience, including increasing renewable energy capacity to
30% by 2030, fostering sustainable agriculture, and modernizing energy grids,
she writes.
Bangladesh’s
efforts extend to constructing flood defenses, sea walls, mangrove forests, and
implementing satellite weather tracking systems. These initiatives are integral
to the country's national adaptation plan and are essential for survival.
However,
adaptation extends beyond environmental measures to encompass growth in
interconnected economies and sectors, requiring significant investment. This
includes making solar technology more affordable, revising taxes on inverters,
and attracting international investment.
Despite
leaders at COP28 pledging $169 million to the Adaptation Fund, this falls short
of the $300 million annual target. PM Hasina called for wealthier nations to
fulfil their responsibilities.
With
limited time remaining at COP28, she urged the largest carbon-emitting nations
to submit ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and developed
countries to meet the $100 billion per year financing goal, with post-2025
climate finance targets set higher.
Climate
finance, according to Hasina, must meet three criteria: sufficiency,
regularity, and accessibility, considering the challenging years ahead for
countries like Bangladesh. She appealed to international partners for deep
reflection on common goals, decisive action, and acknowledgment of the costs of
further delays. While applauding ongoing efforts, she also urged solidarity in
line with the latest science.
As climate
challenges intensify, PM Hasina stressed the importance of confronting and
addressing them collectively and decisively.
DCT/OL/SMKN/END
