Baku: Environment, Forest, Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan stressed the need for regional cooperation in the South Asian to address climate challenges impacts. "Let's work together to outline steps for effective collaboration and progress. To identify areas for meaningful joint action, we should focus on energy, agriculture, forestry, and potentially rivers," she said. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the adviser emphasized that these sectors are interconnected with climate resilience and provide significant opportunities for collaboration and shared learning. Rizwana Hasan was speaking at a meeting with the environment secretaries of Nepal and Bhutan at the Bangladesh Pavilion during the ongoing COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Bangladesh Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed was present at the meeting, as reported in a message received. During the meeting, Rizwana also stressed the importance of actionable joint initiatives in key areas such as energy, agriculture, forestry, and rivers. She cautioned against adopting false solutions promoted by agro-giants and called for prioritizing sustainable practices that genuinely support farmers and communities. Sharing experiences on forest conservation and its role in achieving climate goals and protecting vulnerable populations were other key areas, the environment adviser said. She focused on renewable energy to meet growing demands while reducing emissions and called upon countries to share strategies to accelerate transitions to sustainable energy, enhancing both national and regional resilience. Rivers were identified as a critical resource for climate adaptation and agriculture, presenting another potential focus for collaboration. Rizwana Hasan proposed mechanisms to address challenges related to price-sensitive crops and further stressed the need for innovative solutions such as community seed banks and resilient crop varieties. "By establishing mechanisms to share innovations, such as community seed banks or resilient crop varieties, we can amplify benefits with minimal investment. These areas are practical and actionable, requiring fewer political hurdles, making them ideal for joint action," Rizwana said. The meeting underscored the shared commitment of the participating countries to collaborate on sustainable and climate-resilient development pathways. Later, Rizwana Hasan met the ministers of Least Developed Countries at the COP29 in Baku.
