Bangladesh advisor calls for global empathy to confront climate crisis

Bangladesh’s geographic position makes it one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, she says

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has stressed the need for global unity and solidarity to tackle the climate crisis.

Calling for "knowledge-based initiatives" to address the issue, she said: “We have limited time and resources, so we must take collective action. This crisis is not only about survival but also about the security of future generations and the existence of many states."

The advisor made the remarks during an event titled “Biophilia: Reconnecting People, Climate and Culture”, organised by the Swiss Embassy in Gulshan on Tuesday, according to a statement by the environment ministry.

Rizwana highlighted Bangladesh’s high vulnerability to climate change due to the country being a low-lying delta plain. "Our people are bravely confronting disasters, but without adequate mitigation initiatives and international support, our capacity is repeatedly stretched to its limits. The financing and technical assistance needed for adaptation are still falling short of expectations.”

The advisor urged development partners to reconsider aid policies and provide more effective assistance to vulnerable countries.

"No matter how big the crisis is, we will move forward with our development partners towards a solution by holding on to our culture and traditions as sources of strength."

Corinne Henchoz Pignani, charge de affairs in Switzerland Embassy in Bangladesh, Dr Valantine Achancho, country director of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Laboni Akter from Bagerhat’s Shoronkhola also spoke at the event.

Later, Rizwana visited different stalls at the fair organised to showcase various measures taken to address climate risks and exchanged views with students and people vulnerable to climate change.