Dhaka calls for predictable financing to address climate change & biodiversity loss
Climate-vulnerable countries cannot confront these challenges without sufficient resources and access to technology, said Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed
The global community should take decisive, coordinated and adequately financed actions to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed said.
Emphasising the need for predictable financing, she noted that climate-vulnerable countries cannot confront these challenges without sufficient resources and access to technology.
The environment secretary made the remarks while delivering Bangladesh's National Statement at the Plenary of the 7th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), held yesterday (11 December) in Nairobi, Kenya.
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Additional Director General of the Department of Environment Ziaul Haque also attended the plenary as a member of the Bangladesh delegation, according to a message received today (12 December).
Highlighting the financial strain on developing nations, the environment secretary said, "In the absence of support, governments are forced to divert scarce funds from health, education and social protection towards disaster response, jeopardising the future of generations to come."
She urged the UNEA-7 to help mobilise resources through multilateral environmental agreements in a coherent and synergistic manner.
Recalling the urgency of the global environmental emergency, Dr Farhina underscored the need for international solidarity and compassion.
"Climate change is a daily reality for Bangladesh," she said, noting that extreme heat, cyclones, floods, sea-level rise and riverbank erosion continue to displace millions and degrade vital ecosystems.
Despite contributing less than 0.5% of global emissions, Bangladesh continues to demonstrate leadership.
She highlighted the country's enhanced NDC 3.0 submitted within the global deadline, which aims to generate 25% of electricity from renewable sources by 2035, five times higher than the current level.
Bangladesh is also advancing the implementation of its National Adaptation Plan (NAP 2023) and scaling up locally led adaptation efforts across vulnerable regions.
Addressing biodiversity loss, Dr Farhina described the immense pressure on natural resources in a densely populated nation of 180 million people.
She outlined Bangladesh's ongoing implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2026–30), the National Conservation Strategy, the Ramsar Strategic Plan (2026–30), Land Degradation Neutrality targets for 2030, and other national policies on environment, forests and biosafety.
About pollution, she reaffirmed Bangladesh's pioneering role as the first country to ban thin plastic bags.
"Ambition works when it is backed by strong policy and public commitment," she said.
Bangladesh has since introduced separate regulations for solid waste, e-waste, medical waste, hazardous waste and ship-breaking waste management.
The country has finalised the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) directives on plastic waste and restricted the production, import and use of selected single-use plastics. A comprehensive Chemical Waste Management Rules has also been drafted.
Dr Farhina called upon the UNEA-7 to adopt an integrated lifecycle approach to chemicals and plastics, ensuring prevention, safer alternatives and circularity while protecting informal workers.
