Statement by H.E. Shahab Uddin, MP Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Presidency Handover Ceremony

Statement for H.E. Shahab Uddin, MP 

Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change

Bangladesh

25 May 2022

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

H.E. Sheikh Hasina Hon’ble, Prime Minister of Bangladesh

H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, Hon’ble, President of Ghana

Hon. Ban Ki-moon, Former Secretary-General of the United Nations

Honourable Ministers and Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Assalamu Alaikum.

I am truly pleased to be here today to address you for the CVF Presidency Handover Ceremony.

Excellencies,

It is with great pleasure that I note the attendance of prominent officials and dignitaries from the CVF countries here for the Presidency Handover Ceremony.

The climate vulnerable nations of the world are not only leading through their own domestic climate actions in mitigation and adaptation, but also driving needed ambition at the global level in these areas. It is up to us to ensure that this losses and damages of climate change is addressed in a global and equitable manner.

Distinguished participants,

Our great leader Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman always spoke up for the neglected, deprived and miserable people of the world. He took a number of pragmatic initiatives to control environmental pollution, enacted laws and regulations and emphasized on planting more trees. Following the footsteps of Bangabandhu, his daughter, our Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working tirelessly for environmental development and tackling climate change.

Under the able leadership of the Bangladesh Presidency Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh H.E. Sheikh Hasina, the CVF has played a critical role in ensuring that climate action is at the top of the international agenda. At COP26, the Forum requested a delivery plan for the annual $100bn in climate finance and secured a doubling of finance for climate adaptation by 2025. We also welcomed 7 new members into the CVF, bringing the coalition to a total of 55 nations.

Bangladesh as Chair of the CVF has also served to bring together the climate vulnerable countries to advocate and negotiate for equitable and ambitious climate action. We must also ensure that developing countries have access to adequate levels of climate finance to implement our climate commitments in mitigation and adaptation.

Excellencies,

To conclude my remarks, first I would like to congratulate Ghana on their selection as Chair of the CVF. I am assured that their leadership of the CVF will be strong and committed. We look forward to working with the Ghana Presidency to achieve CVF priorities.

Secondly, we, as the most vulnerable nations, must continue to push for more financing for adaptation measures on par with those of mitigation. We need support to ensure the resilience of our nations in the face of increased droughts, floods, sea level rise and extreme weather events.

Finally, I urge all of you to continue working towards strong, robust and ambitious climate action. Our children and future generations will look back upon, and grade us based on the decisions we make today. Our collective future, and the future of our next generations hang in the balance.

Thank you all.

Joy Bangla! Joy Bangabandhu!

Statement for H.E. Shahab Uddin, MP Hon’ble Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change