COP26
Prepare road map to raise green energy use to 40% by 2041: Info Minister
A road map has to be prepared right now to reach the government’s goal of increasing the country’s consumption of renewable energy to 40 per cent by 2041, Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said.
He said, “From now on, if a road map is prepared, it is possible to achieve these goals gradually.”
The minister made this remark at a COP26 side event titled 'Foreign Investment in Renewable Energy Sector' organised by the Power Division at Bangladesh Pavilion in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Tuesday evening.
Read:COP26: Time running out in Glasgow, as delegates wrangle over details
He told the representatives of Bangladesh’s development partners present at the meeting that Bangladesh will benefit from the use of modern technology and financial assistance to reach its green energy targets by 2041.
He suggested turning the urban wastes into renewable energy besides raising the use of solar power. This will make the environment clean and save money too.
There is no alternative to green energy to make the global mitigation efforts a success, the minister added.
He said that Bangladesh is an innocent climate victim due to the continuous carbon emissions of the developed countries of the world. But they are not giving any compensation or technical assistance for causing this damage.
About the development in the power and energy sector in the country, Hasan Mahmud said per capita income and average life expectancy have increased due to the development of this sector. The living standard of the people has improved.
“Now people in remote areas of the country have access to electricity, their income has also increased.”
Besides, he said Bangladesh has become a middle-income country this year thanks increasing electricity coverage. Now the per capita income stands at $2250.
Read: COP26: Bangladesh delegation senses ‘positive vibe’ as Week 1 ends
Noting that remarkable development has been achieved in the power and energy sector under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the minister said 100% of the people of the country will get access to electricity by the end this year.
When Sheikh Hasina took over as the prime minister in 2009, her government inherited only 3,500 MW of electricity, which in the last 12 years has increased to 24,000 MW.
Secretary of the Power Division Md Habibur Rahman, Chairman of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda) Mohammad Alauddin, Director General of Power Cell Mohammad Hossain and Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Deputy Managing Director Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed were present at the event among others.
Bangladesh going for green energy to mitigate climate change impact: Minister
Bangladesh is focusing on renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation to mitigate the adverse impact of carbon emissions, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin has said.
Speaking at a briefing at COP26 press conference room at Glasgow on Monday, the minister reiterated that Bangladesh has been making the efforts despite being one of the least emitters in the world.
Read: COP26: Time running out in Glasgow, as delegates wrangle over details
He said in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) update submitted in August this year, “We have put forward enhanced emission reductions by 2030 amounting to around 90 million tons of CO2 equivalent in combination of conditional and unconditional commitments,”
He, however, lamented that the global community still lacks a sense of urgency and a true commitment to implementing the Paris Agreement so that countries like Bangladesh can have a sustainable future.
In this regard he said that commitment to limit the global warming to 1.5℃, NDC ambition, common timeframe for NDCs as well as decision on Long Term Finance (LTF) are not decided yet.
“One crucial demand is definition of Climate Finance, which is yet to be agreed upon. There is no clear roadmap on $100 billion mobilization and new quantified goal. Urgent and adequate replenishment for Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund is also looked-for,” he said.
Shahab Uddin mentioned that Bangladesh has recently scrapped 10 coal-based power plant projects worth USD10 billion. The country has also joined the global leaders’ declaration to end and reverse deforestation by 2030.
Bangladesh, he said, has installed more than 6 million solar home systems in off-grid areas, and more than 4.5 million improved cooking stoves have been distributed in rural areas.
Read: UNDP, BWJA seal deal to address, redress violence against women
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presented clear and concrete proposals from Bangladesh and as the President of Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) on November 1, the minister mentioned.
Bangladesh looks forward a balanced and fair outcome at Glasgow by strengthening a “common global commitment” for leaving a healthier planet for our future generation, he said.
Deputy Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Begum Habibun Nahar, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Secretary Mostafa Kamal, delegation members Dr Quazi Kholiquzzaman and Prof. Dr. Ainun Nishat were present at the briefing.
India raises finance concern as COP 26 enters second week
After the big-ticket announcements that gave it possibly the most productive start for any climate meeting, the Glasgow conference was staring back at familiar contentious issues on Monday as ministers re-assembled to resolve the key differences that are holding back progress.
Host country UK’s lead negotiator Archie Young said preparations were being made to facilitate “late-night working” throughout the week. COP (Conference of Parties, the official name of the climate meetings) President Alok Sharma said negotiators needed to “shift gears” to ensure an agreement on contentious issues by Friday evening when the meeting is supposed to come to an end, reports the Indian Express.
Read: India At COP26 Says Its Solar Energy Capacity Increased 17 Times In 7 Years
The first results of the ministerial consultations, in the form of draft texts on some of the issues, are expected to be out late by Monday evening.
The issue most talked about is the one related to finance. The failure of the developed countries to put together US$ 100 billion in climate finance every year from 2020 onwards, in accordance with a promise made over a decade ago, has been the biggest disappointment. But that is not the only money that is not coming in.
Money is required for action in a lot of different areas, including adaptation, loss and damage, halting deforestation, capacity building in developing countries, and technology transfer. There isn’t adequate money flowing in anywhere. While the requirements are estimated to be in trillions of dollars every year, developed countries, which are primarily responsible for delivering climate finance, have been unable to put together even a basic sum of US$ 100 billion every year.
Lack of finance is not something new at this COP. It has persisted ever since the climate negotiations began. But the postponement of the 2020 deadline the start of the US$ 100 billion commitment by at least three years has been a big setback to the process.
India, while making a statement on behalf of the BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) at one of the meetings on Monday, spoke for the entire developing world when it said that the non-seriousness of the developed countries over finance was especially frustrating when several other nations had been enhancing the ambition of their climate actions.
“We would not like to see the enhanced mitigation ambitions (new targets announced by several countries, including India) reach the same fate as the pre-2020 climate finance ambition. It has been over a decade since the annual US$ 100 billion pledge and the world is still waiting for its mobilization and delivery. Trust in multilaterism and credibility of the process is at stake,” said Richa Sharma, additional secretary in the Environment Ministry and India’s lead negotiator.
“Post 2020 mitigation ambition and net zero pledges require significantly enhanced climate finance. The exact magnitude of the new finance goal can be determined through a structured process with clear timelines and milestones so that we have a new finance goal well before 2025. This is a simple ask from many developing country parties. Yet what we are getting is more workshops and in-session seminars to discuss the new goal,” Sharma said.
Read: India moves to patent the over century-old logos of Darjeeling’s ‘Toy Train’
“BASIC would like to warn that lack of a serious approach to climate finance will jeopardise the enhanced mitigation and adaptation ambition as well as net zero pledges of parties,” she said.
On Sunday, the COP presidency had said the final outcome from Glasgow, called decision text, must contain a provision expressing “deep concern” over the failure of the developed countries to meet the US$ 100 billion goal. It said another provision should acknowledge the urgent need to scale up finance flows to “levels needed to support developing countries”.
Among other issues requiring attention of the ministers is the particularly difficult provisions of a new carbon market being set up under the Paris Agreement. This is one of the key things holding back the finalization of the rules and procedures that will govern the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Developed and developing countries have major differences on how to deal with accumulated unsold carbon credits with some developing countries. These carbon credits were earned in the previous market mechanism that operated under the Kyoto Protocol. But Kyoto Protocol came to an end last year, and with that ended its market mechanisms. Nations that are left with unsold carbon credits — developing countries like Brazil, India or China — want these to be transitioned to the new market mechanism being established under the Paris Agreement. Several developed countries are opposing this.
There are several issues related to carbon markets that have remained unresolved for over three years now. A resolution of these would be a major step forward.
Elsewhere, countries also have to agree on how frequently should they be updating their NDCs (or nationally determined contributions, an official reference to the climate action plans of every country) – in five year cycles, or ten-year cycles, or somewhere in between. As of now, some countries have submitted five-year action plans, while others have given ten-year plans. Standardisation of this cycle is considered necessary for proper assessment of what the world together is doing over a fixed time period, and whether it was adequate to meet the global goals to keep the temperature rise in check.
The final decision text from Glasgow could ask for the preparation of “synthesis report” every year on the action countries are taking to assess whether enough was being done to keep the global temperatures from rising beyond 1.5 degree Celsius from pre-industrial times.
Bangladesh joins pledge to end deforestation by 2030
Bangladesh has signed the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use in the COP26, pledging to end and reverse deforestation by 2030.
Mostafa Kamal, a member of the Bangladesh delegation and secretary of the ministry of environment, forests and climate change, confirmed this to UNB.
Mostafa said that NDC had uploaded a letter of consent from Bangladesh on the website of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) on August 26 stating its commitment to forest protection, afforestation, and forest expansion by 2030. However, as it was not uploaded timely, it was reported that Bangladesh is not with the global initiative of ending deforestation process- which was inaccurate.
Also read: COP26: Bangladesh announces 37bn-dollar budget to tackle climate change damages
The secretary added that Bangladesh has reached an agreement in this regard. “As other countries have reached a consensus, Bangladesh has also expressed solidarity with this consensus. But because of the system error, the name of Bangladesh was not in the first list on the UNFCC web site.
Later on Sunday, the name of Bangladesh was added and published. In this way, the names of more countries can be added and the list can be published in stages, the secretary said.
He said that Bangladesh is ahead of many other countries in the world in protecting forest lands.
And the consensus target is to protect existing forest lands in their respective countries by 2030 as well as create new forests.
He added that not only the protection of natural forests, but also the proposal to increase green coverage in the cities to address the climate change has been proposed at the conference.
Another member of Bangladesh delegation Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hossain told UNB that a master plan has been taken to increase forest cover from 16 per cent to 20 per cent and afforestation from 22 per cent to 25 per cent by 2030. At the same time, local people are being worked together to protect the forest and create new forests.
"We are constantly protecting the forest," he said. On the contrary, the number of forests in different areas is increasing.
Amir said that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-15) also speak of sustainable management of forests, prevention of deforestation, restoration of forests and conservation of biodiversity.
For this, Bangladesh has taken various steps to conserve forests and forest resources. Article 18 (A) of the Constitution of the country states the specific constitutional obligation to provide for the protection and security of the state's environment and natural resources, biodiversity, forests, forests and wildlife.
Also read: Leaders vow to protect forests, plug methane leaks at COP26
Moreover, the Social Forestry Rules formulated in 2004 and the latest 'National Forest Policy 2016' emphasize on forest conservation and expansion of forest areas, wildlife management and tackling the effects of climate change on the ecosystem.
Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, another Bangladeshi delegate, said that the importance of forest protection has been highlighted in the constitution of the country. In that light, the government has specific policies.
To this end, Bangladesh also expressed solidarity with the unity of all in protecting the forest.
At the COP26 Conference, 134 countries, including Bangladesh, came together to protect the world's forests and protect the world's forests from adverse effects of climate change.
India At COP26 Says Its Solar Energy Capacity Increased 17 Times In 7 Years
India on Sunday told the UN climate summit in Glasgow that its solar energy capacity stands at about 45 gigawatts after it increased 17 times in the last seven years, asserting that although the country represents 17 per cent of the global population, its historical cumulative emissions are only 4 per cent.
India said this while giving a presentation on its third Biennial Update Report (BUR) during the 11th Facilitative Sharing of Views (FSV) at the ongoing COP26 climate summit here, reports NDTV.
Read: India moves to patent the over century-old logos of Darjeeling’s ‘Toy Train’
The BUR was submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in February.
The key highlight of the discussion on India's third BUR was the achievement of 24 per cent reduction in emission intensity of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the period of 2005-2014, and the significant increase of its solar programme.
Making a statement on behalf of India, JR Bhatt, Adviser/Scientist in the Ministry of Environment, highlighted that India represents 17 per cent of the global population but its historical cumulative emissions are only 4 per cent, while current annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are only about 5 per cent.
“This is complemented by the fact that India is particularly vulnerable to climate change. However, India is nevertheless taking several mitigation actions, spanning across the entire economy and society and has progressively continued decoupling of its economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions,” said Mr Bhatt.
In the last seven years, India's installed solar energy capacity has increased 17 times, he said, adding that the solar energy capacity now stands at about 45 gigawatts.
All the Parties commended India's efforts on the BUR and its climate actions, including recent announcements of new measures.
There were questions about India's multilateral efforts to combat climate change, including the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
India responded by saying that disaster risk is increasing in developing countries, and this is a step to enhance international cooperation which is much needed in the current times.
On the question of an increase in forest cover, India responded that people's participation has played an important role in enhancing its forest cover, and that its forests provide all the four ecosystem services.
India highlighted that it speaks on climate change from a position of strength and responsibility.
Read:10 dead in India Covid hospital fire
“India's 15 per cent of total carbon dioxide emission in 2016 was removed from the atmosphere by the LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry).
“Between 2015 and 2019, the forest and tree cover increased by 13,031 square kilometer and mangrove cover increased by 235 square kilometer. Populations of Asiatic lion, elephant, rhino increased manifold in the last 5 to 6 years,” according to India's statement.
“We emphasise that India is particularly vulnerable to climate change, a point which many friends overlook in their eagerness to understand our mitigation efforts.
COP26: Time running out in Glasgow, as delegates wrangle over details
The 26th UN Conference Of the Parties (COP26) on climate change, now in its second week and final week of negotiations, has failed so far to reach a decision on 'loss and damage', and it is now clear that there will be no decision made on this important issue at this year's conference.
Speaking to members of the Bangladesh delegation and environmental experts at the Scottish Exhibition Centre, UNB was able to learn that they are already looking forward to the next such conference, which would be COP27, for a decision on this issue.
Loss and damage from climate change refers to the complete and irrecoverable loss of some things and the repairable damage of other things due to the impacts of human-induced climate change.
Mirza Shawkat Ali, a member of the Bangladesh government delegation, told UNB that the 'breakthrough recognition' of loss and damage in the Paris Agreement was the result of years of effort on the part of countries that are most affected by climate change, including Bangladesh.
Although the developed countries are not very willing to discuss the matter voluntarily, Bangladesh has a strong role to play in this regard as it is the current chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum.
Read: COP26: Bangladesh delegation senses ‘positive vibe’ as Week 1 ends
Shawkat Ali said discussions on preparing guidelines for loss and damage, fundings and considering 'Loss and damage' under COP and CMA - the group of countries who have signed and ratified the Paris Agreement -are going on at this time.
Keeping loss and damage as a separate agenda in each COP going forward is also being discussed.
The Paris Agreement reaffirmed the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage as the main vehicle under the UNFCCC process to avert, minimize and address loss and damage associated with climate change impacts, including extreme weather events and slow onset events.
Shawkat Ali added that discussions on Article 6, which relates to carbon markets, were going on at the technical level on Sunday. Adaptation is being discussed in various forums. However, talks on the $100-billion finance that industrialised countries pledged in 2009, but never followed through on, have ended. How to start long term finance will be finalised, Shawkat Ali said.
Regarding the climate conference, Dr Atiqur Rahman, another member of the Bangladesh delegation and a world-renowned scientist and expert on climate change, said that the rate of reducing carbon emissions by developing countries is generally lower than in developed countries, who are mostly responsible for huge carbon emissions historically that developing countries are suffering from most.
He said that due to climate change, cyclones, floods, cyclones, steep slopes, river and mountain erosion have increased in Bangladesh. Keeping the temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels can prevent the catastrophic effects of climate change.
He said that salinity is increasing rapidly in the south region of Bangladesh. Salinity has been detected in Gopalganj too. Studies have shown that 1-2 types of crops have been damaged because of salinity. Besides, sea level has also risen.
He added that displacement and migration has become a major problem in Bangladesh due to climate change. In this regard, migration and displacement issues are being discussed at the table of various platforms / negotiations.
Read: COP26: Bangladesh announces 37bn-dollar budget to tackle climate change damages
Meanwhile, Ziaul Haque, a member of the Bangladeshi delegation and co-ordinator of the LDC group, told UNB that although many issues were positive, discussions on loss and damage were long overdue.
He said the developed world was supposed to give $100 billion to developing countries including Bangladesh by 2020, according to the promise made in 2009. However, in order to give 100 billion by 2021 is being discussed at the tactical level.
In the meantime, about 80 billion are ready to be disbursed mentioned in the discussion. These 100 billion dollars will be disbursed till 2025.
He said the countries that emit more carbon did not object to this in principle. However, the world leaders of many countries do not agree to pay for the damage caused by climate change. After so many days of discussion, this time it has been added to the agenda. Various conditions are also being attached for the money that is being promised.
Saher Hossain Chowdhury, chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Forest Climate Change, told UNB that the talks were going positively. Hopefully this time there will be progress. Once again, there was talk of securing the bill of 100 billion in funding for the affected countries. But now time is running out for all the talk to give shape to an agreement, in the form of a text that almost 200 countries need to agree on.
COP26: Bangladesh announces 37bn-dollar budget to tackle climate change damages
Bangladesh has adopted a 37bn-dollar programme for mitigation of climate change damages along the country’s coastal areas, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman has said here.
He said this at a COP26 side event organized by the ministry in Glasgow on Thursday afternoon.
Climate change-related incidents displace about 50,000 people every year in Bangladesh, the minister added.
In his speech at the event Enamur said Bangladesh is widely considered as one of the most vulnerable countries to global climate change.
He said inIn 2020 alone 30.7 million people were displaced due to natural disasters.
In 2017 Bangladesh was the 6th most stricken country among 135 countries that experienced displacement due to floods, he said.
Read: Dhaka optimistic about climate cash flow
The World Bank’s Groundswell report also estimated that by 2050 19 million people of Bangladesh will be migrating internally due to slow onset climate change processes such as water scarcity, declining crop productivity and sea level rise.
The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) recognizes that displacement has grave implications for the rights and entitlements of the individuals and communities.
Bangladesh has framed its National Strategy on Internal Displacement Management in January 2021.
“I am confident that COP 26 will be able to develop a mechanism for institutionalizing loss and damage,” he said.
Read: Effective climate plans not possible without funds: Hasina
“I am also hopeful that this year's COP will be able to introduce concessional instruments in case of climate finance,” he added.
Natural disasters are increasing in Bangladesh due to climate change, Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Mohammad Mohsin separately told the UNB correspondent covering the event.
He said Bangladesh highlighted the need for international funds to deal with the damages and loss caused by climate change.
Dhaka optimistic about climate cash flow
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Friday expressed optimism about adequate flow of funds to address climate change- related challenges, noting that Bangladesh has taken a very strong leadership role in COP26.
"We've got a lot of good assurance from the private sector and the governments. We're hopeful," Dr Momen told reporters at a virtual briefing joining from London.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem were present.
The COP26 summit, hosted by the UK in Glasgow, has brought parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh needs to work a lot, especially in preparing good proposals, which he sees as a challenge but achievable.
"We've a long way to go. We've a challenge but we can manage to get plenty of funds," he said, adding that there is willingness to provide funds.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been identified as one of the five influential dealmakers at COP26 being held at Glasgow, according to a BBC report that described Hasina as “voice of the vulnerable”.
Read: Effective climate plans not possible without funds: Hasina
Hasina voice of the vulnerable: BBC
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been named as one of the five influential dealmakers at COP26 being held at Glasgow, according to a BBC report that described the Bangladesh leader as “voice of the vulnerable”.
The four other influential dealmakers who will have a major impact on the summit's success or failure are China's climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua, Saudi Arabia's Ayman Shasly, UK minister Alok Sharma, Spain's minister for ecological transition Teresa Ribera.
Hasina spoke on behalf of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, a grouping of the 48 among the countries most threatened by climate change.
She's an experienced and straight-talking politician, who will bring the lived experience of climate change to the COP, said the BBC report headlined “Climate change: Five dealmakers who will influence the outcome at COP26.”
Just last year, the report said, about one-quarter of Bangladesh was underwater as floods threatened a million homes.
"People like Prime Minister Hasina put a human face on climate change and can help world leaders understand what climate change already looks like," said Dr Jen Allan, an expert in international relations from Cardiff University.
Despite the fact that they are among the poorest nations, the Climate Vulnerable and the Least Developed Countries group have a strong track record in the negotiations.
These countries "punch above their economic weight, so to speak", says Dr Allan.
"Because they are a strong moral voice, and because decisions are taken by consensus, they have been able to get a good deal of progressive decisions through the UN machinery."
According to Quamrul Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi negotiator, who works as part of Sheikh Hasina's team, the vulnerable nations are coming to Glasgow with a clear set of goals.
"There are over one billion people now on the hook of adverse climate impacts," he told BBC. "We want to get them off the hook by getting the richest countries to steeply cut back emissions, to fix the outstanding Paris rules, to ramp up climate finance and to address loss and damage.”
While Greta Thunberg, Sir David Attenborough and world leaders will attract most of the media attention at COP26, the real work of getting 197 countries to commit to changes will fall to lesser-known diplomats and ministers - the negotiators, said BBC.
Their complex role requires a sharp mind, a deep reserve of tact and incredible endurance. Talks often go through the night and rarely finish on time.
Voices of Bangladesh’s poor farmers resonate at COP26
The voices of world leaders are always heard everywhere -- from the UN to COP26. Can poor farmers make their way to that stage? Hardly! But the poorest small-scale farmers of Bangladesh spoke at the COP26 about the projects and practices that are helping them adapt, thanks to IFAD for arranging a virtual visit to Bangladesh, enabling them to speak up. The UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has highlighted the impact of climate change on small-scale farmers at the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change currently underway in Glasgow, UK, through the virtual visit to Bangladesh. The small-scale farmers, who produce 70-80 percent of Bangladesh’s food, are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – and, ironically, contribute to it the least. “Bangladesh contributes less than 0.47 percent of global emissions, yet it is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in her statement at the Leaders’ Meeting on Action and Solidarity–The Critical Decade at COP26. It is also a leader in climate action, offering several examples of how poor rural communities can adapt to the impacts of climate change, build resilience and restore livelihoods.
READ: ADB, multilateral banks commit to mainstreaming nature at COP26
Accompanied by documentary filmmaker Qasa Alom, the audience virtually met and interacted with farmers participating in IFAD-supported projects, to discuss their climate challenges and how they and their rural communities are adapting. IFAD’s experience in Bangladesh over 40 years shows how climate-sensitive agricultural techniques and approaches can have a direct impact on the lives and livelihoods of local populations. Two examples are the Haor Infrastructure and Livelihood Improvement Project-Climate Adaptation and Livelihood Protection project (HILIP-CALIP) and the Promoting Agricultural Commercialization and Enterprises project where IFAD is working with the government and other key partners to ensure that rural populations have all the tools and infrastructure they need to create profitable and sustainable livelihoods, despite the threat of cyclones, droughts, soil erosion and rising water levels. “While progress is being made, the government of Bangladesh and the people of Bangladesh need more financial and technical support to mitigate and adapt to climate change,” said Donal Brown, Associate Vice-President at IFAD on Wednesday. “Successful projects really need to be scaled up, and that’s why the discussions at COP26 are so important. I’m confident that if we all come together and do provide the finance necessary, we will be able to have a successful response to climate change in countries like Bangladesh,” he added. In Sunamganj hoar district, participants spoke about how frequent and prolonged flooding would sweep away their homes and cattle, and how it cut off mobility.
READ: Leaders vow to protect forests, plug methane leaks at COP26 “Six months of the year the roads are underwater, which meant I couldn’t get to my crops to harvest them or sell them at market,” said Lalon, one of the participants. Children would also be unable to go to school. Submersible roads and an early warning system are two of the interventions made by HILIP-CALIP to help people in the area adapt. “I use the submersible road during the pre-monsoon period for transporting and marketing of agricultural/non-agricultural products. And the early warning system helps us to organise ourselves and harvest before the flood comes and store it in protection shelters,” said Lalon. Meanwhile, in Satkhira district, near the Sundarbans, the world’s largest deltaic mangrove forest, participants are taking to crab farming in response to the changing climate in their area. Introducing more saline tolerant species has helped farmers in the area combat the impact of rising sea levels and warming temperatures. “I used to be a shrimp farmer but we have been experiencing more natural disasters in this region, which affected shrimp farming and the harvest. I learnt that crabs are easier to farm, as they are better able to deal with increased salinity and changing water temperatures,” said Masum. This activity is supported by PACE.Globally, only 3 percent of the global climate finance is targeted towards small-scale agriculture, and only 1.7 percent reaches small-scale farmers – a fraction of the support they need to adapt to a changing climate. IFAD said it is committing to ensuring that 40 percent of its core resources are dedicated to climate finance, with the vast majority of this being adaptation to climate finance, as well as expanding its capacity as an assembler of finance. IFAD has historically prioritised adaptation finance and from 2019-20, 92 percent of IFAD’s climate finance was for climate change adaptation. The Building climate resilience in the Asia Pacific region report, released earlier this week, reviews the key results and lessons learned from the IFAD-supported Adaptation for Smallholder Agricultural Programme (ASAP) which ran from 2012 to 2017 and invested US$305 million in targeted rural development projects that needed support in adapting and mitigating the effects of climate change on rural communities. The ASAP programme made significant progress in the region, supporting more than 510,000 small-scale farming households to adapt to climate change in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Nepal and Vietnam. It analyses approaches and actions that were successful and can be “scaled up” in the region, providing a solid foundation for the new phase of the programme called the Enhanced Adaptation for Smallholder Agricultural Programme (ASAP+), potentially channelling an additional US$500 million in climate finance to support the climate resilience of 10 million vulnerable people, particularly women and youth.