PM seeks quick release of fund

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday pleaded for quick release of "International Climate Fund" as promised in COP-15 and sought UNDP's support to cope with climate change induced poverty and migrations in Bangladesh.
"We are anxiously waiting for operation of the "International Climate Fund" and hope COP-16 in December next would establish this fund with specific allocations for Bangladesh as the most vulnerable country (MVC)," she said.
Inaugurating the Asia-Pacific Regional Cluster Conference of UNDP at a local hotel, she hoped that the world leaders would reach a positive agreement based on the Bali Plan of Action with agreed cuts of greenhouse emissions to reduce climate change risk.
Listing her government's various programmes for socio-economic development, she said all efforts of the government are being adversely affected by the impacts of climate change although the country's share of carbon gas emission is negligible.
She said natural disasters have increased in frequency in recent times in Bangladesh due to adverse impact of climate change that wreak havoc on lives and properties in the country.
"Climate migrants are already pouring into our cities causing social disorder and straining existing infrastructure," she said adding that quarter of the country's landmass would go under water with one metre rise of sea level in the coastal areas.
In this context, she said her present government has adopted a 134-point adaptation and mitigation action plan in facing the climate change challenges caused by global warming.
The plan includes dredging of rivers, recovering cultivable land, afforesting 20 percent of land by 2015, creating green belts on river banks, developing climate resilient crops, using renewable and clean energy and constructing cyclone shelters in the coastal areas.
The PM said despite resources constraint her government had set up a "Climate Change Resilient Fund' to this end.
Laying emphasis on the UNDP's role in strengthening ties between government and development partners, Hasina said the looming adverse impact of climate change necessitated the UN body's larger presence and role, particularly the MVCs including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal in South Asia.
The PM said the UNDP can help us in adapting to climate change as well in coping with climate-induced poverty and migrants by creating support infrastructure, livelihoods and shelters.
UNDP Administrator and former prime minister of New Zealand Helen Clark and RBAP Director Jay Chibber also spoke at the conference attended by the country directors and assistant directors of the UNDP Asia-Pacific region.