Bangladesh’s Climate Change, Forest and Environment Adviser, Hasan Syeda Rizwana, emphasized that waiting until 2030 to take effective action against climate change is not an option.
Addressing the “High-Level Ministerial Roundtable on Pre-2030 Ambitious Targets” held at COP29, she urged developed countries to act swiftly in reducing emissions to meet the 1.5°C target and to fulfill their commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s vulnerability to climate change, Rizwana Hasan shared the challenges the country faces in dealing with the realities of climate change.
She pointed out that two severe floods this year caused losses of $1.7 billion, or 1.8% of the national budget, and that the country has experienced 15 climate-induced natural disasters in the past 18 months, leaving 1.2 million people stranded.
Despite contributing only 0.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Bangladesh bears the brunt of these climate impacts.
The adviser also outlined Bangladesh’s commitment to reducing emissions by 22% by 2030, with plans to cut 27 million tons of emissions unconditionally and 61 million tons conditionally. Achieving these targets would require $45 billion from national funds and $135 billion in international assistance.
She called on developed nations to strengthen their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) based on climate justice, reduce reliance on market mechanisms, and honor their commitments to high-quality climate finance.
Later, she delivered a keynote speech at a session titled “Loss and Damage Assessment and Access to International Climate Finance” at the Bangladesh Pavilion, stressing the need for a global framework to address climate-induced losses.
In a separate meeting, Rizwana Hasan also met with Nepal’s Minister of Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri. The discussions focused on mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage strategies, as well as the possibility of increased hydropower cooperation between Bangladesh and Nepal.
She emphasized the importance of collaboration among South Asian nations on loss and damage issues.
