Environment Minister attends ' Road to COP31: Resilent Cities 'event in Turkey
Staff Correspondent
The international event 'Turkiye's Road to COP31: Resilent Cities ' has started in Turkey ahead of the COP31 conference in Antalya, Turkey.
The two-day (8-9 May) event was concluded on.Saturday ahead of the UN Climate Conference COP31 to be held in Antalya, Turkey next November.
On behalf of Bangladesh, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Abdul Awal Mintu participated in the international event at the Museum Hotel in Hatay, Turkey. The two-day international event (May 8-9) will be held on 10-12 May and will be attended by Ministers of Environment and Climate Change of Turkey.
In the opening session of the event, Turkish Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Mr. Murat Kurum welcomed the delegates from different countries. He emphasized on building disaster-resistant and sustainable cities to address the risks of climate change.
Later, Turkish Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Mr. Murat Kurum held a bilateral meeting with Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Abdul Awal Mintu. At the beginning of the meeting, Turkish Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Mr. Murat Kurum sought Bangladesh's opinions and suggestions in view of the "COP31 Conference and Hatay Declaration" and said that Bangladesh is known as a very friendly and brotherly country to the world community.
Turkish Minister of Environment invited the Minister of Environment of Bangladesh to the upcoming COP31 conference and said that Turkey will take new steps to improve Bangladesh's environment and address the risks of climate change at the upcoming COP31 conference.
Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Abdul Awal Mintoo thanked Bangladesh for inviting him to Turkey and said that millions of Bangladeshis are currently living in Turkey and Bangladeshis consider the people of Turkey as a friendly nation.
Abdul Awal Mintoo also said that although Bangladesh contributes only 0.35 percent to global carbon emissions, it is one of the countries most at risk from climate change. Due to deforestation, rapid urbanization and rising sea levels, the country's environment and public life are increasingly under threat. He said that although Bangladesh has been facing various challenges for a long time to combat the harmful effects of climate change, it is not receiving the global financial support it needs.
The Minister also said that a focal person will be appointed from Bangladesh in view of the COP31 conference. They will effectively highlight Bangladesh's position, climate risks and the issues of necessary support at the international level. He emphasized the need for developed countries to play a more responsible role in addressing climate change risks and fair financing for affected countries.
Later, Bangladesh Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, Gambian Minister ROHEY JOHN MANJANG, Syrian Minister MOHAMMED ANJRANI, World Bank Country Director in Turkey HUMBERTO LÓPEZ, and IDB General Manager EYYÜP KARAHAN participated in the panel discussion. In response to a question, Bangladesh Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo emphasized the importance of financing for building climate-resilient infrastructure and urban systems. He said that despite contributing relatively little to global greenhouse gas emissions, least developed and developing countries are the biggest victims of climate change. The minister mentioned that effective mechanisms for climate funds and rapid disbursement of funds are very important for vulnerable countries including Bangladesh.
The minister also said that Bangladesh has the resources. Now, in addition to providing funds, technical cooperation is also very important for building climate-resilient infrastructure, using technology, and developing skills.
On the last day of the program, a bilateral meeting was held between the ministers of the two countries to further strengthen cooperation in the fields of environment, climate change and energy between Bangladesh and Maldives. In the meeting, Ali Sharif, Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Energy of the Maldives, sought Bangladesh's cooperation in the future to plant 5 million trees in the Maldives, especially in the field of sapling production and technical assistance.
At that time, the Minister said, as per the instructions of Honorable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and the government's manifesto, a plan has been taken to plant 250 million trees in the country in the next five years, which is a priority program of the government. He invited the Minister of Environment of the Maldives to visit Bangladesh to see the progress and activities of the implementation of this large program, especially the nursery activities, sapling production process and tree care system in Bangladesh.
On the last day, on May 9, Abdul Awal Mintu, Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change of Bangladesh, met with Fitore Pacolli, Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Infrastructure of Kosovo. During the meeting, Kosovo sought Bangladesh's cooperation in being included in the COP. Bangladesh has expressed its support for this matter.
