US to help Bangladesh to mitigate global warming

The US expressed its firm willingness to stand beside Bangladesh for mitigation and adaptation of the adverse effect of the global warming on Thursday according to a press release from the Embassy of Bangladesh, Washington DC.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Mohammad Ziauddin met Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) at the Capitol Hill on July 23 when they discussed, among others, adverse impacts of climate change on Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Ambassador in the meeting said that climate change, a fact of life of the people of Bangladesh, is hardly of their own making. Bangladesh being one of the least emitters of CO2 (with only 0.3 metric ton per capita emission) is the most vulnerable to the adverse impact of the changing climate. 

He added that 1cm of sea rise will inundate one fifth of Bangladesh and displace 25-30 million people, which is a serious threat to Bangladesh, its neighbours and the world as a whole.

He said the present government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has created a ‘Trust Fund’ and launched nearly 250 projects in Bangladesh for mitigation and adaptation of the severe effects of climate change.

Congressman Lowenthal, a forceful spokesman for climate change and environment protection and currently chair of the Congressional Caucus on ‘Safe Climate’, said he is aware of the vulnerability of Bangladesh.

Ziauddin mentioned that three USAID projects worth of USD 86.6 million are being implemented in Bangladesh to adapt with and mitigate the adverse impacts of the changing climate.

The Ambassador also urged the developed nations including the USA to support formulation of a binding instrument on CO2 emission to save the global environment. 

The Ambassador and Congressman also discussed religious extremism and radicalization in the meeting.

Ziauddin briefed the Congressman about the genesis of religion-based politics in Bangladesh and its heinous manifestation by the BNP and Jamaat alliance in recent times reads the press release. 

Congressman Lowenthal thanked the Ambassador for the meeting and assured his all out support for Bangladesh. Political Counselor Nayem Uddin Ahmed of the Embassy accompanied the Ambassador.