Bangladesh (Commonwealth Union)_ Mami Mizutori, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction in the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), expressed her assurance to Bangladesh regarding increased support in addressing the detrimental consequences of climate change. She emphasized that Bangladesh is among the 30 countries given priority by the United Nations Secretary-General, highlighting the UN’s ongoing commitment to assisting Bangladesh in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change and natural disasters.
This affirmation was made during a meeting held at the Secretariat, where Mizutori met with Md Shahab Uddin, the Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. At the meeting, Mizutori, as the visiting UN Assistant Secretary-General, outlined the UN’s plans to aid Bangladesh in several areas. These include providing support for the country’s preparedness, monitoring, communication, and implementation of early warning systems for various types of disasters, in accordance with identified needs, as well as the promotion of green technology. Recognizing Bangladesh’s remarkable advancements in various social indicators, Mizutori expressed that the world can learn valuable lessons from Bangladesh’s experiences in addressing these challenges.
Minister Shahab Uddin reiterated the Bangladesh government’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of its population from the adverse effects of climate change. He mentioned the implementation of key initiatives such as the Delta Plan 2100, National Adaptation Plan, and the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, which are aimed at achieving this goal. However, he acknowledged the significant financial requirements associated with activities related to biodiversity protection, climate adaptation, and mitigation. Further, Uddin emphasized the importance of substantial assistance from the international community and the UN to ensure Bangladesh’s success in fulfilling its international commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The meeting was attended by several notable figures, including Dr. Farhina Ahmed, the Secretary of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change; Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Additional Secretary (Administration); Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik, Additional Secretary (Environment); Dr. Fahmida Khanam, Additional Secretary (Development); Gwyn Lewis, the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh; and Marco Toscano-Rivalta, Chief of the UNDRR Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, among others.
