Foreign Minister Calls for International Support to Tackle Climate Risks

Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud has called for strong international support to tackle climate risks and develop small island countries. He made this fervent appeal on the second day of the United Nations-organized ‘Fourth Conference of Small Island Developing States’ held in St. John’s, the capital of the Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, last Tuesday afternoon local time.

This information was disclosed in a press release sent by the ministry yesterday, Wednesday. The release stated that in the SIDS plenary at the main auditorium of the American University of Antigua in St. John’s, Foreign Minister Hasan, as a traditional spokesperson for the least developed countries, highlighted Bangladesh’s continuous role in the development of small island countries and reiterated the personal commitment of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in these matters. He said that Bangladesh, which has served as the chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) for two terms, has focused especially on addressing challenges like climate change, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and extreme weather.

Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan stated that it is imperative to bring high-carbon-emitting developed economies under accountable commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions harmful to the environment. In this regard, it is crucial for the upcoming COP 29 World Climate Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, to focus on implementing post-2025 climate finance commitments and enhancing climate adaptation capacities of UN member states.

The Foreign Minister also mentioned Bangladesh’s leadership in seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the responsibilities of states in tackling climate change. He announced scholarships for cadets from African least developed countries and Caribbean and Pacific SIDS countries at Bangladesh Marine Academy, emphasizing Bangladesh’s commitment to regional cooperation in the maritime sector and capacity building across nations. The conference will conclude with the finalization of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) for resilient development.

Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Mohammad Abdul Muhith, Director General of the North America Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Khondker Masudul Alam, and Public Relations Officer of the Foreign Minister’s Office Mir Akram Uddin Ahmed joined the conference as part of the country’s delegation.

Bilateral Meetings with Jamaica and the Dominican Republic on the same day, alongside attending the SIDS conference, Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud held meetings with the foreign ministers of Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. During these meetings, he discussed enhancing cooperation in multilateral platforms, people-to-people contact, culture, industry, education, trade, and tourism with Jamaican Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith and Dominican Republic Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez. Earlier, in New York, Canada’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Bob Rae met with the Foreign Minister. During the discussion on the current context, Bob Rae talked about resolving the Rohingya crisis. The Foreign Minister informed him that the only solution is for the Rohingyas is to return to Myanmar, who have taken refuge in Bangladesh after being displaced from their country.

Tags: Bangladesh Climate