Mobilising $100b for climate action a matter of trust
Says COP26 chief Alok Sharma
UK lawmaker and COP26 president Alok Sharma is urging developed countries to step up efforts to mobilise $100 billion annually, as pledged in 2015, to support climate vulnerable countries for climate adaptation and mitigation.
"I have made this case to donor countries around the world and said this $100 billion is a matter of trust, and it is very important that we deliver on it," he said at a joint press conference, after a meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at the Foreign Service Academy yesterday.
Sharma, who arrived early yesterday on a two-day visit to Bangladesh, after visiting Vietnam and Indonesia ahead of the UN Climate Summit in Glasgow in November, is drumming up support for climate ambitions of the countries.
Noting that the UK coal-based power projects should be a history, Sharma said many of the power plants [in Bangladesh] are not going to go ahead and can be replaced with clean energy.
Bangladesh has a potential of 40 gigawatts of renewable energy, which can be produced by 2041.
"Bangladesh is working on wind power onshore and offshore. Let's see what comes. We are keen to see that transition," he said.
At the joint press conference, AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh is scaling down coal-power projects.
"We plan to have 40 percent renewable energy by 2041, and in the process, we want to have zero coal power," he said.
Sharma has agreed to attend a side event of Climate Vulnerable Forum led by Bangladesh in the COP26, Momen said.
Bilaterally, Momen said, Bangladesh is seeking UK support in building high and strong embankments in the coastal region.
"It is our responsibility to repair the embankments that were built in the 1960s and 70s. They need to be heightened and broadened," he added.
Sharma also took part at a roundtable at the Foreign Service Academy, attended by ministers from ministries of environment, and power and energy, and experts and officials concerned.
Earlier, he called on the prime minister. He is scheduled to visit the Sundarbans.