Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaking at Congress Center in Davos, Switzerland yesterday. -PID
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged world leaders to ensure release of the funds they pledge to combat climate change. On Wednesday, she addressed the plenary session 'Leading the Fight against Climate Change' of the ongoing World Econo-mic Forum (WEF) at the Congress Hall in Davos of Switzerland.
Hasina said Bangladesh was one of the countries which has the least contribution to climate change but is one of those affected the most. Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, former US vice president Al Gore and HSBC Group CEO Stuart Gulliver attended the session.
Hasina stressed innovating new technologies to mitigate climate change and transferring it on a non-profit model. "The pledged climate funds should be released. At least half of it should go to countries which face risk of climate change," she said.
Speaking at the session, the prime minister said Bangladesh has formed a $400 million climate change fund out of its own resources. Even after contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emission, Bangladesh pays heavily for it, said Hasina.
"The lives and livelihoods of farmers, fishers, artisans, women are increasingly at risk. We need greater focus on agriculture and food security". As we move to implement the Paris Agreement, there are areas global community, including the businesses, can step in, first, lives and livelihoods of our farmers, fishers, artisans and women are increasingly at risk. They need urgent support. We need greater focus on agriculture and food security," she said.
She urged the global community and business to make "smart agriculture" beneficial for small and marginal farmers as well as giving them knowledge on sustainable cropping and farm management.Hasina said Bangladesh is committed on the issue of per capita carbon emission limit.
"We are transforming our manufacturing to green. We are focusing on renewable energy and installed around 4.5 million solar home systems."She said that over 15 million people now access electricity from these solar units. "By 2018, Bangladesh will emerge as the largest solar nation globally."
Hasina said as part of the initiative to a climate-resilient agriculture, Bangladeshi scientists are researching to develop stress-tolerant varieties of crops, which need less irrigation. Observing that global business and research hold solutions that can save lives, crops and agri resources, she said, "We need innovative 'not-for-profit' models or partnerships to roll the solutions to meet our needs,"
The prime minister noted that access to renewable and clean energy, energy-efficient technologies, devices, implements are critical for farming, manufacturing and urban services. "We need support and innovation to go beyond the existing global energy market modalities," she said
The prime minister also pointed out that technology transfer is very critical as the world can no longer sit pretty on the excuse of intellectual rights protection. "And, now the UN Technology Bank for LDCs is there for all to help the LDCs on technology. What we ask is access to life-saving technologies in agriculture, health, etc. that can bring in huge difference," she said.
Noting that Bangladesh is 'a tale of climate ground zero', Hasina said although Bangladesh contributes least to global greenhouse gas emission, it pays dearly as millions are forced to move silently.
She said Bangladesh ratified the Paris Agreement with the hope that the global community will share responsibility for shared prosperity.
"Paris Agreement must deliver towards the low-income, climate vulnerable countries," the prime minister affirmed.She said in 2009, out of own resources, Bangladesh established a 400 million dollar Climate Change Trust Fund.
"In 2012, we committed that Bangladesh would not exceed the average per capita emission of the developing world," she informed.
The prime minister pointed to that fact that Bangladesh is shifting to a low-carbon development path. "We're transforming our manufacturing 'green'. We're focusing on renewable energy; and installed around 4.5 million Solar Home Systems in Bangladesh," she said.
Noting that over 15 million people now access electricity from these solar units, the prime minister projected that by 2018, Bangladesh will emerge as the largest solar nation in the world.
-UNB, Davos
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