Joint efforts of CVF and Commonwealth needed to implement Paris Agreement: HPM Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and the Commonwealth members to work together as no country is safe from the impact of climate change.

"With more than one-third member states of the CVF also being the members of the Commonwealth, I firmly believe that joint efforts of the CVF and the Commonwealth members can act as a catalyst for implementation of the Paris Agreement," she said.

The prime minister made the remarks while addressing the CVF-Commonwealth High-Level Panel Discussion on Climate Prosperity Partnership at the Commonwealth Pavilion in COP26 venue as chief guest.

She added that the Commonwealth countries have a long history of commitment and contributions in addressing the challenges of the climate change.

Sheikh Hasina, also the CVF chair, raised six points for effective collaboration between the CVF and Commonwealth.

She said, "We need to increase knowledge-sharing, research and capacity building and technology transfer among the members for achieving sustainable, green, and nature-based solutions for our prosperous future."

"Second, our common position can help us secure the annual $100 billion for climate financing by the developed countries for the developing countries, as promised in the Paris Agreement. The climate financing has to be in addition to the existing and future ODA. This amount should be allocated with the ratio of 50:50 between adaptation and mitigation," she said.

In the third point, the prime minister said, the issue of climate migrants -- people displaced from their ancestral homes and traditional jobs because of the adverse effects of climate change, including sea-level rise, increasing salinity, river erosion, floods and droughts -- needs to be discussed. "And there has to be global responsibility for the rehabilitation of these people," the PM added.

In her fourth point, Hasina said, "Our united actions can act as a force for the major emitting countries to declare their ambitious and aggressive NDCs to keep the global temperature rise at 1.5 degrees (Celsius)."

"Fifth, transfer of clean and green technology to developing countries at affordable costs, including for meeting energy requirements, is very important. At the same time, the development needs of the CVF and the Commonwealth members will have to be taken into account," she said.

"Finally," Hasina said, "Together we must try to find pragmatic, inclusive and locally-led solutions to tackle climate change."

Climate Change: A cross-border issue

Mentioning that climate change is a global and cross-border issue now, she said, "No country is immune from its grave consequences. The increased number of climate disasters and their impacts have brought the vulnerable countries to a tipping point of unalterable damage. These are affecting global food, energy, health and economic securities."

The prime minister said the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report gives a clear message that all have to take urgent and decisive actions to save our planet and the future generations.

She said the 48 members of the CVF account for only 5 percent of the total global emission. "However, the adverse impacts of climate change have posed fundamental threats to our lives and livelihoods."

Besides, the prime minister said, the Covid-19 pandemic has proven the significance of effective cooperation and collaboration for robust, bold and responsive action by the international community.

Hasina said Bangladesh is often referred to as the "ground zero" for adverse impacts of climate change. "Despite our vulnerabilities and resource constraints, we have adopted exemplary initiatives to tackle climate change. Recently, we submitted an ambitious and updated NDC to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)."

Hasina said Bangladesh has launched the "Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan" to transform our climate vulnerability into climate prosperity by following a low-carbon development path.