$9m US grant for climate fund announced

The US government, through USAID, announced an initial obligation of $9 million to support the Bangladesh Climate Change Resilience Fund.
The announcement was made at the environment and forests ministry on Thursday, said a US embassy press release.
A total of $13 million US grant to the fund for four years was promised by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during her recent visit to Bangladesh.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena, and USAID Bangladesh Mission Director Richard Greene represented the US government at the event.
Environment Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and World Bank Country Director Ellen A Goldstein were also present.
Joining this multi-donor fund is a significant opportunity for USAID to further align its program objective with other development partners, provide direct support for the government of Bangladesh's efforts to respond to the threat of climate change, and advance President Obama's Global Climate Change Initiative, which is focused promoting sustainable and climate-resilient societies, fostering low carbon growth, and reducing emissions from deforestation and land degradation, said the release.
The US government, through USAID, has provided over $5.8 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh since 1971. In 2011 alone, USAID provided more than $180 million to improve the lives of people in Bangladesh, including $17 million in environment and climate change funding.