Regional technical, financial co-op essential to ensure climate justice: Rizwana

Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Syeda Rizwana Hasan noted that forming a collaborative group comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal would be a highly positive step toward strengthening regional cooperation in climate negotiations. 

She said technical and financial support is essential for achieving climate justice but planned communication, exchange of information, and joint initiatives will make climate diplomacy more effective.

She made all these remarks while speaking as the Chief Guest at the workshop titled "The Draft Position Paper for COP-30" held at the Department of Environment (DoE) in Agargaon, Dhaka.

"Although discussions on the USD 100 billion global climate fund have been ongoing for years, there remains a significant gap in its effective implementation," Rizwana said.

She emphasized that to strengthen Bangladesh's position in global climate negotiations, it is vital to enhance research, policy formulation, and action planning within the administration.

Rizwana Hasan also said that Bangladesh has learned much over the years, but there is still a need to be more active in areas such as climate justice, funding, projections, and the rights of workers. Protests and goodwill are not enough-coordinated action is the only way forward, she remarked.

The workshop was chaired by Dr. Md. Kamruzzaman NDC, Director General of the Department of Environment. Among others, Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, Additional Secretary (Climate Change Wing); Dr. Ainun Nishat, Climate Expert; Dharitri Kumar Sarkar, Joint Secretary (Climate Change); and Mirza Shawkat Ali, Director (Climate Change and International Convention), spoke on the occasion.

During the open discussion session, moderated by Additional Secretary Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, climate experts and activists from various organizations shared their views and called for a stronger and more strategic position for Bangladesh at the upcoming COP-30 conference.