Prime Minister to Speak on Climate Change at UN: State Minister for Foreign Affairs
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will highlight the issue of climate change in his maiden speech at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. She said Bangladesh will use various international platforms, including the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) scheduled for November, to strengthen its call for climate justice on the global stage and highlight the benefits of environmentally friendly jute products.
She made the remarks while speaking at a discussion titled “Pursuing Climate Justice Through Climate Diplomacy” in the capital on Tuesday (September 15).
Shama Obaed said a separate “Climate Change Division” has been opened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the first time to strengthen climate diplomacy and expand international cooperation on the issue. “We are working jointly with the Ministry of Environment on climate change-related issues,” she said.
The state minister said the Prime Minister’s speech at the United Nations will reflect the government’s commitment to addressing climate change and present Bangladesh’s position and priorities before the international community.
She said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will leave Dhaka for New York on September 21 to attend the upcoming 81st session of the UN General Assembly. He will address the United Nations on September 24 and stay in the United States until September 26. Besides, the Prime Minister is also expected to attend the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in November.
Shama Obaed said women and children are among those most severely affected by natural disasters and other consequences of climate change.
She therefore stressed the need to highlight their vulnerabilities and protection needs in global climate discussions.
Noting that women and children are among those most affected by natural disasters and climate change, the state minister said their protection and vulnerabilities need to be strongly highlighted in global climate discussions. “We will clearly tell the international community what measures need to be taken to protect them. At the same time, we will highlight the use and benefits of jute products in addressing the climate crisis,” she said.
She said Bangladesh’s traditional and environmentally friendly jute products can play an important role in reducing dependence on plastics and other polluting materials.
Referring to the government’s tree-planting and canal-excavation programmes, she said such initiatives will help reduce the impacts of climate change while strengthening environmental protection.
