Saima Wazed chosen as ambassador to Climate Vulnerable Forum
3 other eminent personalities chosen as well
Saima Wazed Hossain, chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Autism, was among four eminent personalities chosen as ambassadors of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF).
She was chosen alongside Mohamed Nasheed, speaker and former President of Maldives; Loren Legarda, deputy speaker of the Parliament of Philippines and Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu, lead Climate Change Specialist of DR Congo.
The four were chosen as CVF Thematic Ambassadors in four domains respectively -- Vulnerability, Ambition, Parliament and Renewable Energy -- a foreign ministry statement said today.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, on behalf of the Bangladesh president and prime minister, invited them to take the roles.
As CVF Thematic Ambassadors they will create global public campaign and mobilise stakeholders, groups and voices to raise global awareness on climate vulnerabilities and pursue countries to keep the Paris Agreement Goal of 1.5 degree centigrade alive.
They will advocate on behalf of CVF countries and coordinate international cooperation to fight against the adverse impacts of climate change.
After assuming the Presidency of Climate Vulnerable forum (CVF) and the Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Group of Finance Ministers, Bangladesh has decided to engage six thematic ambassadors to help strengthen its networking and engagements with key actors throughout the world in six identified core areas of ambition -- culture, finance, parliaments, renewable energy and vulnerability.
Saima Wazed, Mohamed Nasheed, Loren Legarda and Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu are highly regarded in their respective domains. Their selection reflects their outstanding and prolonged expertise and dedication in their fields of work.
Two more thematic ambassadors for culture and finance will also be appointed from Marshall Islands and Costa Rica.
Saima Wazed, daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is an expert on neurodevelopment disorders and mental health, and an accomplished speaker and author. She is widely credited for bringing the mental health issues to the mainstream and breaking social barriers to acceptance of persons with disabilities. She was instrumental in the adoption of UN resolution titled 'Addressing the Socioeconomic Needs of Individuals, Families and Societies Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Disorders and Associated Disabilities' in 2012.
Mohamed Nasheed's relentless efforts in promoting ambition in climate change and for reducing global carbon emission are globally acclaimed. His unique initiative in holding the underwater cabinet meeting to highlight the threat of climate change and global warming received global attention during his presidency.
Loren Legarda is one of the most prolific parliamentarians in the world and is behind a host of acts of the Philippines parliament on climate change. She was instrumental in establishing the CVF in 2009 with President Nasheed and later the V-20 Group of Finance Ministers.
Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu has several years of experience in the areas of finance, climate change, economic development, carbon markets, renewable energy, environment and diplomacy.