Bangladesh seeks technology transfer, investment through European collaboration

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday sought European partnership and collaboration in the areas of technology transfer and investment to help Bangladesh increase its renewable energy share.

"We want to boost renewable energy share. We seek their technology and investment," he told reporters at a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after his meeting with the envoys of European countries, reports UNB.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen were, among others present.

European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley tweeted after the meeting saying the EU head of missions had fruitful exchange with the Foreign Minister and the Environment Minister on preparations for COP26 and their shared approach to many climate concerns.

Dr Momen said the government has already concealed the plan of having seven coal-based power plants as it is focusing on more renewable energy.

"Partner countries need to help us with technology and concessional loans. We can expect public-private partnership in this area," he said.

Responding to a question on achieving a net-zero carbon emission targets by 2050, Dr Momen said it will be very difficult for Bangladesh to achieve the target as a developing country.

Bangladesh, however, recognises the urgent need to make ambitious and accelerated efforts to limit average temperature rises to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, strengthen adaptation to the impacts of climate change, and scale up finance and support towards these ends.

Bangladesh also called for increased climate action in the lead up to the COP26 Summit, which will be held in Glasgow in November keeping in consideration the development needs of individual countries.

Bangladesh underscored the necessity of securing commitments from global leaders, especially the G20, to curb global emissions substantially, arrest global temperature at 1.5 degrees, and secure maximal climate finance, especially for adaptation and concrete actions on low-carbon technology transfer.

During the meeting with the EU envoys, Bangladesh talked about the importance of developed countries delivering their collective climate finance goal to jointly mobilise US$100 billion annually in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation, to address the needs of developing countries.

The Bangladesh side also talked about the possibility of wind power offshore and sought support from the European countries to that end.

The UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12.

The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Prime Minister is likely to leave Dhaka for Glasgow on October 31 and she will visit London before heading for Paris.

She is likely to hold a bilateral meeting with her British counterpart Boris Johnson either in Glasgow or in London.

The Prime Minister is also expected to hold bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron during her Paris visit.