PM to play key role in addressing climate change challenges at COP- 22: FM

Bangladesh's participation to a high level segment of the COP-22 in Marrakech, Morocco would play a crucial role to address the climate change challenges and intensify global campaign to this end, said Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali here yesterday.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's participation to COP-22 would help highlight the country's multi-faceted successes in tackling climate change challenges and its strong position to address the climate change induced adversities," he said at a press conference at his ministry here this afternoon. 

The ministry organized the press conference on the PM's upcoming visit to Marrakech, Morocco to attend the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP-22) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Replying to a query, Mahmood Ali said that the Prime Minister in her statement, at a high-level segment of COP-22, is likely to re-emphasize Bangladesh's resolve and determination and its strong position on the issues like adaptation, loss and damage, finance and technology transfer.

"She (Prime Minister) at the Marakech summit is expected to highlight the initiatives and measures undertaken by the government in tackling the menaces of climate change," the foreign minister added. Heads of states and government of 56 countries across the globe will attend the COP-22. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the summit at the special invitation of the King of Morocco Mohammed VI.

According to the visit schedule, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaves Dhaka for Marrakech tomorrow morning by a VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by a high-level Bangladesh delegation including Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, Minister for Environment and Forest Anwar Hossain Monju and Minister for Foreign Affairs AH Mahmood Ali. 

On Tuesday, the Bangladesh premier will attend the opening session of the High-level Segment of COP-22 at Plenary Hall at Bab Ighli, the COP-22 Conference Venue, in Marrakech from 10am-1pm. 

Earlier, King of Morocco Mohammed VI, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UNFCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa are expected to receive the Bangladesh prime minister along with other heads of states and government at Bab lghli. 

Sheikh Hasina will deliver her statement at the joint high-level segment of COP-22, the 12th Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 12), and the 1st Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 1) as the 49th speaker of the day in the afternoon. 

Along with other heads of states and government, the premier will attend a lunch to be hosted by King of Morocco Mohammed VI the same day.

Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to return home on November 16 night after concluding her three-day visit to Morocco. 

COP-22, which began on November 7 and runs through November 18, is the first such meeting since the historic adoption of the Paris Agreement at COP-21 in December last year. 

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) entered into force in 1994, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The Conference of the Parties (COP) was designated as the supreme governing body of the Convention. 

To date, 109 countries out of 197 have submitted their instruments of ratification. These countries meet once a year, during two weeks, in order to evaluate the application of the Convention and develop the negotiation process between the Parties in front of new commitments.

Source: BSS