Staff Correspondent

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury has urged all parties to establish an operational path to ensure timely disbursement of funds for climate change loss and damage.

He also asked global leaders to take decisive actions, emphasising the necessity to finalise the new climate finance goal and complete the Article 6 of carbon market rules.

The Environment Minister made the call on July 27 while delivering his speech at the closing session of the two-day Head of Delegation retreat programmean held in Shamakhi, Azerbaijan, according to a message received here today.

Minister Chowdhury was invited by the COP29 Azerbaijan Presidency designate, Minister Mukhtar Babayev, to represent the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Saber Chowdhury said climate change is an existential challenge, not just a threat as the severe and widespread impacts already being felt across various LDCs.

He said these adverse impacts are only the beginning of a much longer list of challenges.

Saber Chowdhury noted the world is not aligned with the 1.5-degree Celsius temperature goal.

He also called for the alignment of the next Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with the 1.5-degree Celsius goal, stressing the importance of building trust among nations through clear support mechanisms for NDC implementation.

Looking ahead to the next COP 29 in Baku, he remarked, "The next COP29 in Baku will be a litmus test for the COP process, and there is no option of failing."

Minister Chowdhury's speech resonated with the urgency and collaborative spirit needed to tackle climate change effectively.