Bangladesh (Commonwealth Union)_ According to Md Shahab Uddin, the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister of Bangladesh, the country would require US$ 373 billion to implement its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) in the next 27 years. This would include an annual finance of US$ 8.5 billion as new and additional funding. Speaking at the first Copenhagen Climate Ministerial Meeting held in Eigtveds Pakhus in Copenhagen in Denmark, Uddin said that Bangladesh would require US$ 143 billion in international support to fully implement its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets. He emphasized the need for easy and quick access to climate finance to achieve these targets.
Uddin urged the wealthy nations to keep their pledges to mobilize US$ 100 billion per year from this year to support climate action in the most vulnerable countries, with an equal balance between adaptation and mitigation. He also highlighted the need for grant-based public financing for adaptation in the most vulnerable developing countries. Uddin stressed the importance of a financial mechanism for the effective implementation of the NAP and encouraged the rich countries to double their adaptation funding to assist developing countries in coping with the adverse effects of climate change.
According to the minister, in accordance with the position of the LDC group, Bangladesh expects the developed nations to play a more proactive role in ensuring the ambitious contribution of climate financing to grant-based adaptation support for the most climate-vulnerable nations. Uddin also emphasized the need for parties to reach a consensus on a number of crucial issues relating to the Mitigation Work Programme. This program aims to cut global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 43 percent by 2030, in an effort to maintain 1.5 degree Celsius within reach.
Uddin added that with the mobilization of necessary financial resources, technological transfer, and capacity building, the Mitigation Work Programme will assist in the creation of enabling conditions for the efficient execution of mitigation initiatives in the most vulnerable developing nations. Before attending the ministerial meeting, Uddin also held a view-exchange meeting with the Bangladeshi community in Denmark. The meeting took place at the Bangladesh Embassy in Denmark and was chaired by AKM Shahidul Karim, the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Denmark.
