DHAKA, June 21, 2023 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin today said Bangladesh should limit the level of greenhouse gas emissions by using environment- technologies.
"We have to do our task. In particular, mitigation programmes, mentioned in the NDC, should be implemented. Together, we must address the challenges of climate change through climate mitigation and adaptation activities," he said at the final workshop of the project titled 'Bangladesh: First Biennial Update Report to the UNFCCC' organised by the Department of Environment (DoE) here.
The environment minister said the Biennial Update Report has been prepared for submission to the UNFCCC by June 30 next.
This document highlights an overall picture of the climate change situation in Bangladesh, an inventory of national greenhouse gas emissions for the period of 2013 to 2019 and mitigation activities, he said.
According to the draft Biennial Update Report, head-on emissions rose by 31.48 percent to 1.29 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019 from 0.98 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2012, which indicates a normal emission increase situation for a developing country like Bangladesh, Shahab Uddin said.
He said: "Nevertheless, we must continue our efforts to combat climate change and greenhouse gas emissions".
Deputy Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar said the biennial update report will identify the areas where the government needs to take additional steps in addition to Bangladesh's progress in meeting climate change commitments.
The report is crucial for transparency and accountability in evaluating the effectiveness of the actions taken by the government and for adopting effective climate policies, she said.
Chaired by DoE Director General Dr. Abdul Hamid, the workshop was attended, among others, by Environment, Forests and Climate Change Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Krishna Raj Adhikari. DoE Director Mirza Showkat Ali presented a keynote paper at the seminar.
