Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been named as one of the winners of the UN's highest environmental accolade -- Champions of the Earth -- in recognition of Bangladesh's far-reaching initiatives to address climate change, says the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep). 

With a population of more than 159 million, Bangladesh is one of the world's most populated countries. It is also one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Cyclones, floods and droughts have long been part of the country's history, but they have intensified in recent years.

Serving as the PM of Bangladesh, one of the world's least developed countries, Hasina has proved that investing in climate change is conducive to achieving social and economic development, says a release of Unep.

The Champions of the Earth award in the Policy Leadership category, which the PM will accept at a ceremony in New York on September 27, recognises Bangladesh's first-off-the-block initiatives under Hasina's government to prepare the ecologically fragile country for the challenges it faces from climate change.

Unep Executive Director Achim Steiner said, "Through a number of forward-looking policy initiatives and investments, Bangladesh has placed confronting the challenge of climate change at the core of its development. These initiatives, from climate change adaptation measures to ecosystem preservation legislation, mean that current and future generations of Bangladeshis are better prepared to address climate change risks and reverse the impacts of environmental degradation."

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has demonstrated leadership and vision in both making climate change an issue of national priority and advocating for an ambitious global response. As an early adopter and advocate of climate change adaptation policy, she continues to be an example to follow as world leaders seek to take action on climate change as part of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris climate conference in December," he added.

The award cites the progressive Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan of 2009, which made Bangladesh the first developing country to frame such a coordinated action plan. Bangladesh is also the first country to set up its own Climate Change Trust Fund supported by nearly $300 million of domestic resources from 2009-2012.

The government currently earmarks 6-7 per cent of its annual budget -- some $1 billion -- on climate change adaptation, with only 25 per cent of this coming from international donors. A Climate Change Fiscal Framework is also in the works to enable the government to track the demand and supply of climate change funds. For the first time, climate change is no longer merely an additional demand, it is central to the country's development prospects, said the Unep statement.

In addition, under her leadership, the Bangladesh Constitution was amended in 2011 to include a constitutional directive to the State to protect the environment and natural resources for current and future generations. Prioritised in the constitution along with wetlands and wildlife, the forestry policies initiative by the premier has provided a natural barrier from some extreme weather events and the country's forests cover has increased by almost 10 percent.

Moving beyond physical and capital investment in climate change adaptation, the government is implementing a wide range of measures to help citizens prepare for an increasingly unpredictable future. These include new health services dealing with waterborne diseases linked to increased floods, training community groups about early warning systems and promoting climate-friendly agricultural technologies.

As part of climate change mitigation, the government is giving high priority to clean and renewable energy, including one of the world's largest solar home energy systems, covering 10 percent of the off-grid population, and reducing emissions from brick-making, one of the largest sources of stationary emissions in the country.

In a major initiative to protect environment, human health and livelihoods, legislation is being enacted to step up regulation of the coastal polluting from the ship-breaking industry that employs a huge workforce in hazardous conditions.

"As one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, Bangladesh understands the importance of addressing the impact of climate change. The country is already experiencing its detrimental effects, and it is often the poorest and marginalised who feel it most," said Robert Watkins, UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh.

"From 1990 to 2008 Bangladesh averaged annual losses of 1.8 percent of the country's GDP due to natural disasters, yet it is important to remember that addressing the impact of climate change is more than just a question of economics. High tides in coastal areas of the country are rising faster than the global average, which leads to loss of livelihoods and displacement.

"By 2050 it is estimated that one in every seven people in Bangladesh is likely to be displaced by climate change, and they are also likely to move to urban centres already burdened with meeting the needs of a dense population.

"I congratulate the government of Bangladesh for being proactive in tackling climate change as a priority of the country. It is also a clarion call for the global community to take action today, and to realise that climate change is not a problem of the future, it is already happening in our lifetime," said Watkins.

ABOUT THE AWARD

The annual Champions of the Earth award is the highest environmental accolade that the United Nations can confer upon outstanding individuals and organisations. Previous laureates of this inclusive award range from leaders of nations to grassroots activists -- all visionaries whose leadership and actions drive the world ever closer to its aspirations of environmental sustainability and a life of dignity for all. To date, the Champions of the Earth has recognised 67 laureates in the categories of policy, science, business and civil society.

The other winners named so far are the National Geographic Society (Science and Innovation); Brazilian cosmetics firm Natura (Entrepreneurial Vision); and South Africa's Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit (Inspiration and Action). Other winners will be announced throughout September.

The awards will be handed out at a Gala Ceremony at the close of the Sustainable Development Goals summit, on September 27.