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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday accepted the Local Adaptation Champions Award of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) as Bangladesh won the maiden award for its leading role in introducing local adaptation programmes to fight climate change.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen handed over the award to the prime minister while paying a courtesy call to her at her official residence Ganabhaban.
“Bangladesh has won the award for its leading role in taking a locally formulated climate adaptation programme,” PM’s Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan said at a press briefing.
He said the Bangladesh prime minister will be in the process of selecting the next awardee as her country won the award this time, according to the rule of GCA.
Bangladesh, the first country to receive the global Local Adaptation Champions Award, won in the Innovation in Devolving Finance category for the Local Government Initiative on Climate Change (LoGIC).
Receiving the award, the PM said she was deeply honoured to accept this prestigious award on behalf of the government and people of Bangladesh, whose unwavering resilience and innovative spirit have always guided Bangladesh through natural adversities.
“This recognition underscores our commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience, and we are grateful for the Global Center on Adaptation’s invaluable support in our journey towards a prosperous and resilient future,” she was quoted as saying.
The premier informed Verkooijen of the measures taken by her government to counter the climate change impacts.” We have established the climate trust fund with our own finances,” she was quoted as saying.
The prime minister and the GCA CEO agreed that the developed countries did not comply with their commitments to give their promised money to the climate fund to help the climate-vulnerable countries.
Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen appreciated Sheikh Hasina for her role in providing money from the climate fund for different international programmes and requested she to be more vocal about this demand.
He urged the PM to take prompt measures to release money from the climate fund of Denmark, otherwise, the money will be sent back by December.
The GCA has proposed to build an iconic nature-based floating office adjacent to Dhaka likewise to it’s office at Rotterdam in the Netherlands which drew global appreciation due to its uniqueness.
The prime minister suggested considering areas outside Dhaka, including Kutubdia, to build the office.
Prof Verkooijen appreciated the role of the prime minister in fighting climate change and locally developed adaptation programmes to face climate change.
“I was encouraged by your role to this end. Wherever I go, I refer to Bangladesh and you (PM) for climate adaptation. So, you may consider me as your envoy,” said Nayeemul quoting the CEO of GCA.
PM’s Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin, Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah and PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin were present.