Climate change action can’t succeed without involving local people

How do you view this conference?

– I think its a very important conference as we in South Asia are facing severe climate vulnerability today. In contemporary period it is very much significant and Nepal and especially Kathmandu is one of the most beautiful cities. And the continuation of the climate action, that we greatly congratulate and express gratitude to the organizers for organizing such an important gathering.

What type of climate related problem is your country facing?

– Bangladesh is one of the world’s most climate vulnerable countries and we have different types of climate vulnerabilities. For example flash flood, that is severely affecting our country. Now Bangladesh is also severely experiencing global warming. Another is cyclone, tornado, drought and river erosion also. We are facing climate vulnerabilities in different places. In southern part we are facing cyclone while in Northern part we are facing flash flood and other disasters.

What do you think is the solution to the problem facing Bangladesh?

Through our initiative as well as the initiatives of the government and international organizations like UN’s initiative, we are already having some significant positive climate adaptation measures. In Bangladesh 80 percent of the population depends on agriculture. For example we are trying to adopt with climate change actions for our cereal crops, vegetable crops and other crops. We have also developed flood tolerant rice. In the other hand climate vulnerability is also directly linked with the lives and livelihood of the people. We are working with various types of disaster preparedness with the involvement of the people. Without people’s involvement and their ownership no such initiative can succeed.

How can regional cooperation help to reduce climate change impacts?

Different types of cooperation has already developed in climate change action through the coordination network. Still there are some challenges. You know there has already been some kinds of cooperation between the government, the NGOs and the international development partners, which is a positive sign. At the same time, there is some gap of coordination and understanding, which is posing challenge in terms of people’s idea, peoples’ participation and different types of community led actions. Cooperation is better at this moment as compared to the past.

What is your opinion about Nepal- Bangladesh energy cooperation?

Its a very nice question. Nepal is one of the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh. There is only small border area between Bangladesh and Nepal, that belongs to India. Now its a very much discussed issue in Bangladesh about the green energy to be imported from Nepal. So far I know negotiation has already reached its final stage among Bangladesh, India and Nepal to transfer energy from Nepal to Bangladesh. I think such initiative can greatly benefit the two countries