Bangladesh’s carbon emission plan a model for the world: Environment Minister

Bangladesh's carbon emissions plan or updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is a role model for the world in tackling climate change, environment, forest and climate change minister has said.

Bangladesh will be able to reduce carbon emissions by a total of 21.85 percent by 2030 if it receives cooperation from the developed world, he said.

"Our NDC will be implemented through all the concerned ministries, departments, government and private agencies. The ministry will provide all necessary assistance and coordination in this regard," Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin said.

Its smooth implementation will help us move towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient upper-middle-income economy by 2031, in line with the Perspective Plan 2021-2041.

The environment minister said this while speaking as the chief guest at the updated NDC 2021 dissemination programme of Bangladesh, organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre today.

The environment minister said that under the Paris Climate Agreement framed in 2015 by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to reduce the harmful effects of climate change, Bangladesh submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions(I-NDC) in 2015 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the minister said, the government has already incorporated the issues of mitigation and adaptation to the effects of climate change in various policy-making documents, including the Perspective Plan and the Five-Year Plan, in line with the country's development process. Bangladesh has recently completed the update of the NDC in accordance with the terms of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Mostafa Kamal presided over the updated NDC Dissemination Function while Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, UNDP Bangladesh Deputy Resident Representative Van Nguyen and Executive Director of the Bangladesh Center for Advanced Studies Dr Atiq Rahman delivered speeches as the special guests. Additional Secretary (Development) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik, Director General of the Department of Environment Md. Ashraf Uddin and Executive Director (In Charge), CEGIS and Member, National River Conservation Commission Malik Fida A Khan also spoke on the occasion.

In addition, representatives of climate expert groups, various ministries, departments, agencies spoke in the open discussion session.