UNDP Resident Representative Meets Environment Minister

The meeting was held on Thursday at the Minister's office at the Bangladesh Secretariat. State Minister for Environment Sheikh Faridul Islam was present on the occasion. The meeting discussed strengthening cooperation on climate resilience, financing biodiversity conservation, and Bangladesh's participation in the carbon market.

The meeting reviewed the ongoing cooperation between Bangladesh and UNDP in the environment, forest and climate change sector and discussed expanding it further. Emphasis was placed on climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, pollution control, plastic waste management, increasing the resilience of local communities, and climate finance.

Minister Abdul Awal Mintu said Bangladesh is one of the countries vulnerable due to climate change. Therefore, adaptation activities must be made more effective and grounded in local realities. At the same time, it is essential to align the conservation of the environment and natural resources with people's livelihoods and economic development.

He said international cooperation, easily accessible climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building are important for addressing climate risks. He stressed making the long-standing partnership with UNDP more fruitful.

State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam stressed increasing the involvement of local government and communities in climate adaptation activities. He highlighted the need to expand nature-based solutions and climate-resilient livelihoods in coastal, char, hilly, haor, and drought-prone areas.

UNDP Resident Representative Stephen Rodriques said UNDP's cooperation for climate-resilient and environmentally friendly development will continue. He expressed interest in working in line with the Bangladesh government's priorities on climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, addressing pollution and plastic waste, climate finance, and increasing resilience at the local level.

At the meeting, both sides agreed to accelerate the implementation of ongoing joint projects and identify new areas of cooperation, including climate adaptation, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, air pollution control, and carbon credits.

At that time, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Fahmida Khanam and senior officials of UNDP Bangladesh were present.