Turn decisions into actions
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called on the international community to turn the decisions on climate change into actions.
“Now this is the time to move forward to implement decisions into actions,” she said in her statement at the high-level segments of the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP-22) here on Tuesday night.
The PM said the Marrakech climate conference held a special significance as the historic Paris Agreement signed last year is expected to be in force this year.
The agreement successfully created a solid ground for a meaningful cooperation in combating climate change, she added.
The three-day programme of the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change is being held in Morocco's former imperial city of Marrakech.
Heads of state and government from 80 countries and senior ministers from 115 countries are participating in the COP-22, also known as the global climate summit.
Hasina called for global efforts to address the issue of climate-induced migrants to achieve the SDG objectives.
“Unless we address this challenge of climate-induced migrant issue appropriately, we would never be able to attain the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals,” she observed.
The Bangladesh premier urged all to join hands to consolidate the global partnership to fight perilous threats of climate change.
Pointing out that Bangladesh is one of the first countries that signed and ratified the Paris Agreement, the PM said lives and livelihoods of millions of people would continue to be at risk unless the world leaders deliver to their commitments on climate change issues.
“We must be prepared to share equitable burden to fulfil our promises of making the world a safer and better place for our future generation.”
Hasina said Bangladesh is the first country to set up a Climate Change Trust Fund of $400 million from its own resources. Bangladesh also achieved success in disaster management although its coastal areas are highly vulnerable to climate-related calamities.
The PM highlighted Bangladesh's disaster management programmes, including early warning system, construction of cyclone shelters and river weeds cultivation, saying these measures significantly reduced loss of lives and properties during disasters.
Stressing the need for ensuring water security, Hasina, also a member of the UN High Level Panel on Water, reiterated her government's commitment to the action plan endorsed by the Panel in New York in September.
The premier laid importance on creating a global fund to support research, innovation and technology transfer to achieve the SDGs on water.
She joined the inaugural session of the conference along with other heads of state and government on Tuesday morning.
Earlier, King of Morocco Mohammed VI, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, UNFCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa and COP22 President Salaheddine Mezouar received the heads of state and government at Bab Ighli, the venue of COP-22.
Hasina arrived in Morocco on Monday afternoon on a three-day official visit. She is expected to return home today.
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