Speakers at a dialogue on Mainstreaming the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) on Sunday emphasised integrating climate change adaptation into the national development planning process.
They also called for making the implementation local-led adaptation keeping in mind the local vulnerability factors.
The dialogue was jointly organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Economic Relations Division (ERD) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
Planning Minister M A Mannan spoke as the chief guest.
He assured of all possible support from the Ministry of Planning in integrating climate change adaptation in the development planning.
“The Project Executive Committees should prioritise adaptation for successful implementation of the NAP,” he said.
Deputy Minister of the MoEFCC Habibun Nahar said that the government is confident that it will be able to showcase the world the success in climate change adaptation. “NAP will be our blueprint of adaptation”.
Dr Ainun Nishat, Professor Emeritus, C3ER, BRAC University and Team Leader, NAP Formulation Consortium, made a presentation on mainstreaming while Malik Fida A. Khan, Executive Director, CEGIS, presented the draft NAP.
Economic Relation Division secretary Fatima Yasmin, Planning Division secretary and Member of Programming of the Planning Commission Pradip Ranjan Chakraborty, UNDP Resident Representative Sudipto Mukerjee were present as special guests.
MoEFCC Secretary Md Mostafa Kamal chaired the session.
Additional Secretary (Climate Change Wing) and National Project Director, NAP Md Mizanul Hoque Chowdhury said that an implementation roadmap is needed, which should be integrated in the development planning to realise the national development goals.
Dr Ainun said that NAP is complementary to the National development planning including the Delta Plan 2100, Five Year Plans to make our adaptation approach sustainable and effective.
“For successful implementation, every ministry should integrate climate change adaptation in their respective planning and financing process”.
He emphasised making the NAP a legally binding reference for successful implementation of the NAP.
Fatima hoped that NAP will be a comprehensive strategy to adapt with the changing climate. She echoed with the need for the climate change act.
Sudipto mentioned that data management is very important in effective planning. Efforts should be there to make climate change data available for effective planning.
Pradip Ranjan said that adaptation efforts should consider the disaster impact assessment for successful planning of adaptation projects.
Md Mostafa said that for a climate-vulnerable country like Bangladesh, human displacement is a critical issue in climate change adaptation – NAP must address this issue to support the life and livelihood of the climate-vulnerable people.
According to a press release, NAP envisions reducing climate risks and vulnerability through effective adaptation strategies for fostering a resilient society ecosystem and stimulating sustainable economic growth.
In doing so, Bangladesh will materialise the NAP through the promotion of green growth strategies supported by sustainable nature-based solutions.
NAP is a locally-led process built upon ecosystem-based adaptation that will create a balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Source: United News of Bangladesh