Adaptation is the main challenge

Daily Star (Bangladesh): Adaptation to climate change is one of the biggest challenges for Bangladesh right now, and it is already making efforts to face this challenge and should share its knowledge and experience in this field with other countries. Visiting Danish Minister for Climate and Energy Connie Hedegaar said this at a seminar on “Road to Copenhagen--Seen from Bangladesh” at a city hotel yesterday.

State Minister for Environment and Forest Mustafizur Rahman, who also spoke at the seminar, asked for resources from development partners to integrate climate change initiatives in the country's mainstream development process.

The Danish minister said, " I have learnt that in Bangladesh up to 40 percent of the investment in development and infrastructure is likely to be affected by climate change." The Danish government committed additional initial funds for the new Strategy and Action Plan for Management of Climate Change for Bagladesh, she added. "Denmark is contributing 120 million taka or 10 million Kroner in addition to the more than two billion taka that we already commit each year here in Bangladesh," Hedegaar said.

Mustafizur also sought support of development partners, including Denmark, Sweden and the UK, to Bangladesh's proposal for setting up an international adaptation research and training centre. The seminar was held ahead of Denmark's hosting of Copenhagen Conference of Parties (COP) 15 of UNFCCC…..