Govt forming adaptation plan to address climate change: Minister

The government is formulating an effective national adaptation plan to address the risks of climate change based on the views of concerned ministries, departments, and the public.

Environment Minister Shahab Uddin said this at the National Adaptation Plan Pre-Validation Workshop organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change at Hotel Intercontinental, Dhaka on Saturday.

The Napa National Adaptation Plan will be implemented with the cooperation of all concerned, he added.

Bangladesh will be able to minimise the risks of climate change by adopting and implementing medium and long term projects as planned.

The environment minister said that the project for climate adaptation would be implemented with the help of the developed world, by increasing finances, technology, and capabilities.

The ministry will cooperate with all other ministries in this regard, he said, adding that the government is working to ensure security for the people in terms of food, water, electricity, health, etc. Initiatives are being taken to further enhance the capacity to deal with natural disasters, he added.

Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry Mostafa Kamal presided over the workshop.

Deputy Environment Minister Habibun Nahar, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on environment ministry Saber Hossain Chowdhury, National Project Director of the NAP Preparation Project and Additional Secretary (Climate Change) Mizanul Hoque Chowdhury and Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh Van Nguyen addressed the workshop as special guests.

The draft NAP were presented by Emeritus Professor and Climate Specialist Dr Ainun Nishat, team leader, NAP Preparatory Committee, and Malik Fida A Khan, executive director, CEGIS.