The four-day United Nations Climate Adaptation Conference National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Expo 2024 came to a close on April 25 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the capital, culminating in a call for robust international support for climate adaptation efforts.
At the closing ceremony of the NAP Expo, D. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, urged developed countries to fulfill their promises of providing financial support and technology for the implementation of NAP. Stressing the importance of collective action, Ahmed emphasized the need to address real issues in least developed countries (LDCs), where accessing finance for NAP implementation remains challenging.
Manager of the Department of Adaptation of the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Paul Desanker, commended Bangladesh's resilience in tackling climate change. He highlighted initiatives such as cyclone shelters and the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership as exemplary efforts.
Desanker underscored the essential role of government, non-governmental stakeholders, and local communities in the success of NAP. He emphasized the importance of data, active measurement, and inclusion for effective adaptation strategies, urging urgent collective action for NAP implementation.
Least Developed Countries Expert Group Vice-Chair Adao Soares Barbosa also addressed the closing session, moderated by Lubna Yasmin, Joint Secretary of the Ministry. Bangladesh, one of the countries most affected by climate change, faces challenges such as coastal erosion, salinity intrusion, and natural calamities like floods and cyclones.
Earlier, during the opening day of the NAP Expo, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury highlighted the urgency of addressing climate change impacts, emphasizing the importance of effective action.
Additionally, Tariqul Islam, Deputy Assistant Agriculture Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, showcased innovative agricultural practices at the Expo. Demonstrating methods for smart agriculture, including the use of solar power and cultivation techniques in waterlogged and saltwater-prone areas, the exhibition aimed to achieve self-sufficiency in agriculture despite natural disasters.