Face threat of climate change in comprehensive manner
Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury urged the international community to face the threat of climate change in a comprehensive manner.
He said this while he was speaking at an event on “Climate Change” hosted jointly at the UN Headquarters by Bangladesh, Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK on Wednesday.
Describing climate change as a major threat to development he said adequate resources must be transferred to the more vulnerable groups of nations like the least developed countries (LDCs) in order to enable them to combat and surmount the threat, says a press release.
“The climate change debate must be `depoliticised' and the developed and major developing countries must bear the burden of the costs incurred in transferring the relevant technology to the poorer and more vulnerable countries”, he said.
Nearly 50 ministers representing both rich and poorer countries attended the event.
Prof Jeffrey D Sachs of the Columbia University, who moderated the event, urged the rich countries to stick by the promises made if the Millennium Development Goals are to be achieved.
Many speakers praised the domestic initiatives undertaken by Bangladesh in this area and also Bangladesh's contribution to stimulating the climate change debate, particularly with regard to “adaptation”, the release added.
Food Security
Another report adds: Iftekhar called upon Commonwealth countries to focus on ensuring food security for its citizens.
He was addressing the Special Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (SCHOGM), at the United Nations Headquarters on Wednesday, says a press release.
He said, “All Millennium Development Goals critically hinge on poverty and hunger, all other goals on health, education, supply of safe drinking water and women empowerment largely depended on defeating the scourge of hunger.”
Iftekhar suggested food exporting and importing Commonwealth countries to arrive at a “compact” to address the issue more effectively.
He mentioned that recently Bangladesh had proposed the setting up of a Food Bank and consequently the UN Secretary General had established a Task Force in this connection. He urged the Commonwealth Secretariat to complement these efforts.
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