Environmental protection and tackling climate change among government's top priorities: State Minister for Environment

He said this while speaking as chief guest at the pre-COP31 international online seminar titled ‘The Road to Anatolia: Climate Finance and NDC 3.0’ on Wednesday. Bangladesh Climate Change Trust and the UNESCO Chair jointly organized the webinar.

The state minister said the government is working to expand renewable energy, promote environmentally friendly urban management, ensure sustainable waste management and ensure proper use of natural resources to achieve climate-resilient development. Initiatives have also been taken to encourage electric vehicles to reduce air pollution, stop hill and mound cutting, and enforce environmental laws.

He said fuel production from waste, converting waste into resources, and increasing the use of renewable energy including solar and wind power are being promoted. For a climate-vulnerable country like Bangladesh, it is urgent to ensure adequate international climate finance to implement NDC 3.0.

Dr. Md. Saifum Parvez, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said the government has taken initiatives to diversify sources of climate finance. Along with increasing the participation of international development partners, financial institutions and the private sector, emphasis is being placed on tree plantation, renewable energy and modern waste management.

Kazi Rawnakul Islam, Managing Director of Bangladesh Climate Change Trust, said although Bangladesh's contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is low, the country is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Opportunities for international climate finance need to be utilized to tackle cyclones, floods, droughts and salinity.

At the webinar, emphasis was placed on new and diversified sources of financing for implementing NDC 3.0, creating investable projects, public-private partnerships, institutional capacity, and ensuring transparency and accountability in financing. International experts participated in the discussion and highlighted various aspects of increasing climate finance and international cooperation.