Bel©m: Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has called on wealthy nations to fulfill their commitments made under the Paris Climate Agreement. She emphasized that climate finance should be provided as grants rather than charity or loans.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the adviser made these remarks during a press conference at the Bangladesh Pavilion in the Blue Zone of the UN Climate Conference (COP30) held in Bel©m, Brazil, on Saturday (BST Sunday). She highlighted the disparity between those responsible for climate change and those suffering its consequences, noting that this imbalance becomes more apparent when representing Bangladesh and other vulnerable countries.
Farida Akhter also pointed out the significant increase in youth participation at the climate conference. She stated that their involvement, speeches, and questions at various side events have brought a new dimension to climate discussions. She stressed the importance of their active engagement, as they will shape future climate leadership.
The adviser addressed the need to tackle gender-related challenges in climate policy and increase women's participation, acknowledging that climate change disproportionately affects women. She suggested that the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs should actively participate in future UN climate conferences.
Furthermore, she discussed the risks facing the country's national fish, hilsa, due to changes in river patterns, loss of habitats, and climate-induced pressures, which threaten the livelihoods of fishers. Farida Akhter emphasized the necessity of global cooperation to protect this resource.
The press conference was attended by Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, Additional Secretary of the Economic Relations Division AKM Sohel, Additional Director General of the Department of Environment Ziaul Haque, Director Mirza Shawkat Ali, and Founder and Director of the Center for Climate Justice Bangladesh M Hafizul Islam Khan.