Environment
Decision to double support to climate adaptation must be implemented: Saber H. Chowdhury
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that the decision to double the support for climate adaptation activities should be implemented. He said, Bangladesh needs international support for full implementation of Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, National Adaptation Plan, Nationally Determined Contribution. The minister clearly highlighted the views of least developed and developing countries including Bangladesh on important issues in the decision-making process related to climate finance at the upcoming COP 29.
The Environment Minister said these things while addressing the Petersburg Climate Dialogue held in Berlin, Germany on Friday (April 26).
The Environment Minister emphasized the restoration of mutual trust and confidence in UN climate change negotiations. He stressed the imperative of fulfilling all previous commitments and prioritizing science in all efforts to address climate change. Furthermore, he called upon all nations, particularly developed ones and those with the capacity, to unite in their efforts to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement's target of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Environment Minister Saber Chowdhury held bilateral meetings with various dignitaries, including the COP28 and COP29 presidents; Saudi Arabia's Chief Climate Negotiator Khalid M. Almehaid, State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action of German Federal Foreign Office Jennifer Lee Morga, State Secretary of the German Federal Chancellery Dr. Jörg Kukies, representative of Egypt, Denmark on the sidelines of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue. He also received an invitation letter from Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Foreign Minister and Chief Negotiator of Azerbaijan, to attend the COP-29.
Environment Minister Saber Chowdhury's address drew significant interest from ministers representing approximately 40 countries attending the Petersburg Climate Dialogue, with many expressing support for his perspectives. Among the notable attendees were German Chancellor Olaf Schloss and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, alongside ministerial delegates from 40 nations.
Dhaka’s air quality ‘unhealthy’ this morning
Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked 10th on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI index of 152 at 9am this morning (April 26, 2024).
Today’s air was classified as 'unhealthy', according to the air quality index though the last day’s air was moderate.
When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, usually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
Nepal’s Kathmandu, Pakistan’s Lahore and India’s Delhi occupied the first, second and third spots in the list, with AQI scores of 194, 194 and 190, respectively.
The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
Developed nations urged to provide resources and technologies for NAP implementation
Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Farhina Ahmed has urged developed nations to fulfill commitments by providing resources and technologies for plan implementation.
She advocated for collective action to address climate challenges and protect vulnerable communities.She said National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Expo 2024 in Bangladesh showcased the country's resilience and leadership in climate adaptation.
The environment secretary was speaking in the Official CLOSURE OF THE MEETINGS of the National Adaptation Plan Expo 2024 held on Thursday in the BICC, Dhaka.
She underscored the need for practical solutions at the grassroots level, especially in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), where accessing finance for NAP implementation remains challenging.
The NAP Expo provided a platform to assess progress, identify obstacles, and strategise a way forward, with Bangladesh offering to share its adaptation experiences. She proposed organising an event at COP29 to disseminate NAP Expo outcomes widely.
Farhina said the event discussed transformational adaptation through national plans, emphasizing the need for a new approach to adaptation planning and securing finance from diverse sources.
The expo served as a platform for sharing experiences, best practices, and fostering partnerships to enhance global adaptation efforts. Overall, the event underscored Bangladesh's role as a leader in adaptation planning and provided insights into effective strategies for addressing the impacts of climate change.
Paul Desanker, Manager in the Adaptation Division of the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change lauded Bangladesh's resilience amid climate change, citing initiatives like cyclone shelters and the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership.
Citing Challenges in implementing NAPs, such as financial constraints, are acknowledged, with a call for innovative financing and transboundary cooperation. Involvement of governmental, non-governmental stakeholders, and local communities is deemed vital for NAP success. Data, proactive measurement, and inclusivity are highlighted for effective adaptation strategies.
He said the focus is on implementation methods, emphasizing capacity building and technical assistance. COP 28's goal for all developing nations to submit their NAPs by 2025 is mentioned. The NAP is portrayed as a process towards a resilient future. He urges collective action with urgency, thanking participants for their contributions and calling for inspiration to take action.
Adao Soares Barbosa, Vice-Chair, Least Developed Countries Experts Group also spoke in the closing session. Joint Secretary of the Ministry Lubna Yasmine moderated the closing session.
Collaboration is vital for addressing climate change, achieving adaptation goals: Environment Secretary
Environment Forest and Climate Change Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed said collaboration and coordination are keys to effectively addressing climate change impacts and achieving adaptation goals.
She said this while addressing in a technical session titled ‘Assessing Richness and Gaps Towards The Global Goals Adaptation in Green View room in BICC, Dhaka Thursday in the ongoing NAP Expo 2024, said a media release of the ministry.
Bangladesh plans to contribute to the development of indicators, establish early warning systems, implement adaptation plans, and establish monitoring systems, she said, adding that the synergies between NAPs and the GGA are explored to enhance adaptation efforts and demonstrate progress.
Dr Farhina said the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) is crucial for aligning adaptation actions with the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) though challenges exist, such as concluding negotiations before formulating NAPs, countries like Bangladesh are committed to aligning their adaptation efforts with the GGA.
Gwyn Lewis, UN Resident Coordinator, Bangladesh; Mozaharul Alam, Regional climate change coordinator, UNEP, Vanessa Villegas- Carriedo, UNEP; Arfan Uzzaman, National Climate Change Expert, FAO, Bangladesh; Azan Mohamed - Maldives and Jose Vitale; Jose Luiz Onofre also spoke on the occasion.
Govt to fight climate change by raising renewable energy goals to 40%: Environment Secretary
During the ongoing NAP Expo at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center, Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed revealed the government's commitment to combat climate change by increasing the renewable energy target to 40 percent.
She emphasized Bangladesh's leadership in adaptation capacity and highlighted the importance of public and mental health amidst climate challenges.
Young Bangla launches campaign to create awareness about climate change
Addressing the technical session titled “Implementation National Guidelines in Urban Local Government Context with Effective Participation: Learning from Practices,” Fariha stressed the necessity of extensive tree plantation in urban areas to mitigate rising temperatures.
The government is actively involved in tree plantation initiatives and encourages public participation in this endeavor. Furthermore, she underscored the need to augment water reservoirs in Dhaka to cope with climate-induced changes.
Regarding the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), the environment secretary outlined the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 6.73 percent by 2030, with a potential additional reduction of 15.12 percent with international assistance. He emphasized the critical role of international financial support in realizing Bangladesh's climate action plans.
Environment Minister calls for unified action to safeguard Ganges River dolphin
The panel discussion featured insights from various stakeholders including Sarwar Bari, Director General of Local Government Department (Planning), Dana de la Fontaine, Cluster Coordinator of GI Lloyd's Climate Change and Sustainable Urban Development Cluster, and M. Mehdi Ahsan, the country representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Bangladesh.
Young Bangla launches campaign to create awareness about climate change
Young Bangla, country’s largest youth platform, has rolled out a countrywide series of extensive and interactive schemes that aims to raise awareness among communities to reduce man made causes leading to climate change and cope up adverse impact of climate change.
This initiative comes as people are suffering the worst from a sweltering heat giving rise to a rallying call for mass awareness in protecting the environment often endangered by people induced hazards, according to the organisation.
To make the campaign effective, a diverse range of events are lined up including dozens of street plays, seminars, art competitions, street songs, puppet shows, tree plantation among others.
All these events would further bring in evocative messaging over how to avoid negative impact on environment like plastic waste management, hospital waste management alongside building basic knowledge on harmful chemicals.
Sprawled across the country, over 50 youth-led organisations have joined hands to run the campaign tilted as “keep your environment clean and liveable”.
Environment Minister calls for unified action to safeguard Ganges River dolphin
Kicked off on April 22, the seven-day initiative is expected to make a considerable mark, said the organisers.
With photos of a band of youths conducting a campaign in Chittagong, a Facebook post on YB page reads
“winners of the 2023 Joy Bangla Youth Award, brought the spirit of environmental activism to Chittagong!”
Environment Minister calls for unified action to safeguard Ganges River dolphin
Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury underscored the pressing need for coordinated endeavors to save the Ganges River Dolphin within the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna (GBM) river basin from extinction.
Acknowledging the global importance of the Ganges River Dolphin, the minister urged collective action and increased collaboration among all stakeholders to tackle the diverse challenges confronting the species.
He made these remarks during the inaugural session of the First International Conference on Management and Conservation of the Ganges River Dolphin, held at Hotel Intercontinental, Dhaka.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Saber Hossain emphasized that the dolphin serves as a vital indicator of river health, stressing that understanding the dolphin population's status reflects the overall ecological well-being of the river.
He warned that the inability of dolphins to thrive in river waters signals a perilous state of water pollution, endangering the river ecosystem and aquatic life.
Minister Saber highlighted the importance of fostering collaborative partnerships, facilitating interdisciplinary exchanges, and leveraging collective expertise to ensure the sustained survival of the Ganges River Dolphin.
He emphasized the significance of robust knowledge dissemination, innovative policy dialogues, and community engagement initiatives to drive conservation efforts and promote sustainable management practices within the GBM river basin.
Chaired by Chief Conservator of Forest Md. Amir Hosain Chowdhury, the session was addressed, among others, by Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, World Bank Acting Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan Syud Amer Ahmed, BWDB Director General Muhammad Amirul Haq Bhuiya and BIWTA Chief Engineer (Dredging) Rokibul Islam Talukder.
Divisional Forest Officer of Chittagong North Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Ramesh Kumar Yadav of Koshi Tappa Wildlife Reserve of Nepal and Lead Environment Specialist and Regional Standards Coordinator at the World Bank Josefo Tuyor made separate power-point presentations on the Ganges dolphins.
The conference brought together a diverse array of stakeholders, including government agencies, the World Bank, international organizations, academia, NGOs, community leaders, and species experts.
Participants engaged in insightful discussions, knowledge sharing sessions, and policy dialogues aimed at formulating effective strategies for the preservation of this iconic species.
Bangladesh needs $ 534 bln to tackle climate change by 2050: Environment Minister
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury on Tuesday said Bangladesh needs $ 534 billion dollar to tackle climate change by 2050 and international financial support is essential for implementation of climate plans.
Minister Saber said this while delivering speech at the National Adaptation Plan Expo 2024, focusing on the advancement of Bangladesh's National Climate Plans.
The session, held in Dhaka, marked a pivotal moment in Bangladesh's commitment to addressing climate change and enhancing its resilience.
He said that Bangladesh is committed to working collaboratively with international partners to build climate resilience.
The minister reaffirmed the government's dedication to advancing climate adaptation efforts and ensuring a sustainable future for all citizens.
He emphasised the importance of proactive measures, collaborative efforts, and innovative solutions in adapting to the challenges posed by climate change.
During his address, the minister highlighted Bangladesh's significant progress in developing and implementing national climate plans, showcasing the country's leadership in climate adaptation on a global scale.
Chaired by the ministry’s sectary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Malik Fida A Khan, Executive Director, CEGIS; A K M Sohel, Additional Secretary, ERD, and Chair, International Climate Finance Cell; Kenel DELUSCA, ITAP Member, Green Climate Fund and Dr. M. Asaduzaman, a Climate Specialist, spoke as panelist on challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned in NAP formulation and implementation in Bangladesh.
Dharitri Kumar Sarkar, Deputy Secretary, MoEFCC and Mirza Shawkat Ali, Director, Climate Change & International Convention, DoE Presented Bangladesh's National Adaptation Plan 2023- 2050.
Amid heat wave, Dhaka's air quality is still "unhealthy"
Dhaka has ranked 8th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 127 at 9:10 am this morning (April 23, 2024).
Dhaka’s air was classified as ‘unhealthy’ today, according to the air quality index.
India’s Delhi, Qatar's Doha and Thailand’s Chiang Mai occupied the first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 226, 168 and 167 respectively.
Dhaka’s air quality again ‘unhealthy’ this morning
When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’; between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’; between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’; between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy'; while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Chuadanga logs season’s highest temperature for 4th consecutive day
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
Bangladesh pledges to create a resilient world for all: Saber
Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Saber Hossain Chowdhury said Bangladesh, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, pledges to be partner in creating a resilient world for all, including the youth and child to be born tomorrow.
“At the global level, she (PM) has been a powerful and respected voice for the most climate vulnerable countries and has been resolutely advocating for enhanced adaptation funding which is yet to be delivered as per repeated pledges, critical importance of keeping temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius, establishment of the Loss and Damage fund, transfer of technology and needs based means of implementation,” he said.
Saber was delivering speech in the session ii : High Level Transformational Dialogue – A transformed NAP for the Future in NAP EXPO 2024 hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, with the theme Driving Transformational Adaptation Through National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) on Monday in Dhaka BICC.
The remarkable progress has been achieved despite the manifold impacts of climate change on Bangladesh and her people – ever increasing number of displaced climate refugees, intensity and frequency of natural hazards, flooding, food security, salinity intrusion, droughts, rising sea levels to the south and increased glacial melt in the Hindu Kush Himalayas to the north, water stress, biodiversity loss, said the minister
Despite the enormity of challenges, Bangladesh under the wise and inspiring leadership of Hon. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sees itself not just as a victim of climate change, which it most certainly is, but also as a leader and champion when it comes to solutions and innovations, he added.
Environment Minister said In the current financial year, Bangladesh has allocated almost USD 3.5 billion via 25 line ministries to respond to the impacts of climate change and a National Adaptation Plan between now and 2050 involving an investment of USD 230 billion has been formulated and incorporation of health interventions given its growing nexus with climate change is a work in progress. The comprehensive plan encompasses 113 interventions across 8 thematic sectors under 11 vulnerable areas. The Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF), a first of its kind in the world was set up from the country’s own resources in 2009.
Saber said the Parliament of Bangladesh was the first legislature to adopt a motion on Planetary Emergency, “We have mainstreamed green and climate resilient development in our central planning process, Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan which envisages an aspirational pathway from vulnerability to resilience to prosperity is being implemented . Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP), a global first that brings together all the development partners, private sector, NGO’s and all stakeholders, including youth and women under one platform to deliver on effective climate action and significantly scaled up funding of Bangladesh led initiatives.”
He said the global community has not delivered on the 100-billion-dollar pledge and neither has adaptation funding been appropriately balanced nor allocated. An agreed definition of climate finance must also be a definitive outcome of COP29 which will have a focus on finance including the New Collective Quantified Goals considering the increasing needs of climate vulnerable countries, small island developing states and of course the LDCs.
Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, ROBERT E.A. BORJE, Secretary Vice-Chairperson and Executive, Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Director, Office of the President of the Philippines CLIMATE CHANGE COMMISSION also spoke in the session.