Shifting war spending could create a better global environment: PM

Shifting war spending could create a better global environment: PM

DHAKA, April 22, 2024 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today stressed the need to spend money used in war to protect the world, and made six proposals to tackle the negative impacts of climate change to achieve a build a beautiful world for the future generation.

“I couldn’t help but say one thing: the world could be saved if the money spent on wars and buying weapons was used for (facing the consequences of) climate change,” she said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while inaugurating a four-day UN Climate Adaptation Conference titled ‘National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Expo 2024’ and Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP) at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC).

“We strive to build a safe and beautiful world for future generations. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to increase adaptive capacity, strengthen resilience and undertake coordinated risk reduction initiatives. —Let us work together to intensify protecting this planet,” she said.

She also said that she would like to briefly put forward a few points for consideration in order to build a wonderful world for the future generations.

In her first proposal, the Prime Minister said major CO2-emitting countries must take effective action to reduce their emissions to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“Second, developed countries’ commitments to a $100 billion annual climate fund must be met. This fund should be equally divided between adaptation and mitigation,” she said.

Third, the Prime Minister said that developed countries must ensure efficient energy solutions and transfer of technologies to developing countries.

In her fourth proposal, she also said that during the transition to renewable energy, the development priorities of the countries involved should be taken into account based on their loss and damage.

Sheikh Hasina said fifthly that all countries must share the responsibility for the rehabilitation of people displaced by sea level rise, salinity, river erosion, floods and droughts.

“Finally, major economies must work globally with all stakeholders to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come,” she said.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh has always cooperated with the international community to combat the effects of climate change.

Under the guidance of the Prime Minister’s Office, Bangladesh has already formed the ‘Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP)’ with development partners, she said.

“All parties agree on this. I hope that BCDP will make significant contributions to the implementation of Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, National Adaptation Plan, National Determined Contribution and Bangladesh Vision 2041,” she added.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has already formulated the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for 2022-2050 and submitted it to the UNFCCC in October 2022.

This plan has identified 113 priority programs in 8 sectors of 11 climate risk areas, she said.

“We need approximately $230 billion to implement the action plans adopted in the NAP over the next 27 years. I urge rich countries and the international community to provide dedicated funds and additional financial resources,” she said.

Minister of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Simon Stiell, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Climate Change Dr. Farhina Ahmed and UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis, among others, spoke at the function.

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