Planning Minister MA Mannan said on Thursday that climate change is a terrible problem for Bangladesh, but the country is working hard for environmental sustainability and climate resilience like any other developed country.
“World leaders are aware of this, but the proudest thing is that our ancestors and people living in disaster-prone areas today still manage to tolerate the adverse effects of such disasters,” he added.
Planning Minister MA Mannan made the remarks while virtually attending a publication launching programme titled, “Bangladesh Climate and Disaster Risk Atlas” on Thursday.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), together with the Planning Commission of Bangladesh, launched the Bangladesh Climate and Disaster Risk Atlas on the day.
The atlas, which includes geospatial maps for climate and disaster risk screening and assessment, will be an effective tool for infrastructure planning and design, hazard mitigation, and climate- and disaster-proofing.
It reflects the priorities set out in ADB’s country partnership strategy (CPS) for Bangladesh (2021–2025) and Strategy 2030, as well as Bangladesh’s policies and strategies for environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
Planning Minister said, “We are also adapting to survive in the changing climate. Our Prime Minister is implementing various initiatives. Our friendly countries are providing various assistance. We are working like a developed country. We are working for the betterment of the coastal people, the backward people.”
Assuring the concerned ministries and departments, MA Mannan further said, “You have brought the climate-related project to the Planning Commission, we are here. I will pass these by reviewing them. People own the country, so we have to work for the people.”
Joining the webinar, Dr Shamsul Alam, State Minister for Planning, said, “I have already talked to the ADB Country Director. I have asked to invest Delta Plan as the basis of development. Because, for sustainable development, tackling the effects of climate change is essential. That is why this centenary plan is being prepared and implemented.”
ADB’s Vice President (Operations 1) Shixin Chen, Director General for ADB’s South Asia Department Kenichi Yokoyama, Secretary, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Md Kamrul Hasan, Deputy Director-General for ADB’s South Asia Department Manmohan Parkash, ADB Country Director for Bangladesh Edimon Ginting and Advisor, Office of the Director-General for ADB’s South Asia Department Liping Zheng , among others, attended the event.
However, the two-volume publication—Hazards—Volume I and Exposures, Vulnerabilities, and Risks—Volume II—is intended to support the design and implementation of projects and options for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management in Bangladesh.
It is a key output of the project “Establishing a Climate Risk Screening System for Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into National Development Budgeting Activities,” funded by ADB’s regional knowledge and support (capacity development) technical assistance Action on Climate Change in South Asia (2013–2018).
The project was implemented by the Programming Division, Planning Commission under the supervision of Dr. Nurun Nahar, its Joint Chief.
The regional technical assistance project aimed to further enhance the capacity of South Asia developing member countries, including Bangladesh, in managing the impacts of climate change, through effectively transitioning to a low-carbon and climate-resilient development path.
The technical assistance project has strengthened the screening of investment projects against climate risks and boosted the capacity to develop and implement climate change strategies and action plans.
The ADB CPS for 2021–2025 has prioritized enhanced support for climate change adaptation and mitigation, and disaster risk management to address the country’s high vulnerability to climate events and other natural hazards, in line with the Paris Agreement.
A holistic approach to integrating climate change will be applied to all operations while expanding programmes to directly address climate change impacts through integrated management of water, river, and coastal areas.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.
