Protect our planet

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for a robust international collaboration as she unveiled a five-point proposal to protect the planet from the adverse impact of climate change.

"To protect the planet and ourselves [from the adverse impact of climate change], I would suggest that political leadership must encourage robust international collaboration," she said in her first proposal.

The premier made the proposal through a video message at a high-level virtual roundtable on climate action on the sidelines of the 75th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday.

In her second proposal, Hasina said the global temperature increase must be limited up to 1.5 degrees Celsius and all Paris provisions must be implemented.

Thirdly, she said, the promised funds have to be made available to the vulnerable countries.

In the fourth proposal, the PM said polluting countries must increase their NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) through necessary mitigation measures.

"Recognise that rehabilitation of the climate refugees is a global responsibility," she said in the fifth proposal.

Thanking the UN secretary-general for his concern regarding the impacts of climate change, Hasina pointed out that Bangladesh has some ideas and experiences to share on adaptation and resilience.

"We have prepared Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 to deal with the challenges of climate change and water management."

The PM said the government has built 4,291 cyclone shelters and 523 flood shelters in the country, while 56,000 volunteers are available to facilitate preparation prior to any cyclone.

"That's why we have joined the 'REAP' [Risk-informed Early Action Partnership] initiative which aims to make one billion people around the world safer from disasters by 2025," she added.

In this context, she mentioned Bangladesh is the current chair of Climate Vulnerable Forum, while Global Centre of Adaptation's regional office was set up in Dhaka recently.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres convened the event and it was moderated by British journalist Femi Oke. Guterres delivered the introductory remarks at the 90-minute programme.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Italian PM Giuseppe Conte, President of Chile Sebastian Pinera Echenique, Nigerian President Mahamadou Issoufou, Fijian PM Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and Bhutanese PM Lotay Tshering spoke at the high-level event.

HASINA TO ADDRESS UNGA TODAY

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address virtually the 75th UNGA in New York today.

"The prime minister is scheduled to deliver her pre-recorded country statement at the UNGA general debate in the UN Headquarters approximately at 10:00am New York time [Bangladesh time 8:00pm] tomorrow [today]," PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told BSS.

Hasina will deliver the speech in Bangla like she did in the past following the footsteps of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he added.