Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for collective global action to build a safer and more sustainable future for the next generation, urging the international community to take five urgent measures, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring predictable climate finance for climate-vulnerable countries.“Let us act together to build a safer and more sustainable future for generations to come,” the prime minister said while addressing a high-level meeting on “Climate Action and the Just Transition” at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.Photo: PMOThe meeting was convened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the Trusteeship Council Chamber as part of the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).The meeting focused on strengthening international cooperation to address the impacts of climate change, ensure climate justice and accelerate a sustainable and just energy transition.In his address, Tarique Rahman outlined five urgent measures for global climate action: reducing greenhouse gas emissions to keep global warming within the 1.5-degree Celsius limit under the Paris Agreement; ensuring predictable and accessible adaptation finance for climate-vulnerable countries; expanding access to climate-smart technologies; scaling up renewable energy through financing and technology transfer; and fully implementing and regularly replenishing the Loss and Damage Fund.Photo: PMOHighlighting Bangladesh’s vulnerability despite its relatively small contribution to global emissions, the prime minister said the country accounts for less than 0.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions while remaining one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries.“By the end of this century, 12 to 18 percent of our coastal areas could be submerged by sea-level rise, affecting the livelihoods of tens of millions,” he said.Tarique Rahman said climate change had already caused loss and damage equivalent to one percent of Bangladesh’s GDP, while the country’s food security was also facing serious risks.“Yet, without international support, we risk severe damage,” he said, referring to Bangladesh’s climate adaptation efforts.The prime minister said Bangladesh had allocated nearly US$3.19 billion in its current budget for climate adaptation and was undertaking various measures to strengthen the country’s resilience to climate impacts.“We plan to plant 250 million trees over five years,” he said, adding that Bangladesh was also excavating around 20,000 kilometres of rivers and canals while advancing the Padma Barrage and Teesta Barrage Master Plan.These initiatives are aimed at retaining water, reducing flood risks, reviving wetlands and recharging groundwater, he said.On Bangladesh’s transition to clean energy, Tarique Rahman said the country aims to generate 20 percent of its electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030.“We are promoting green industries, including jute products, eco-friendly transport, waste-to-energy and circular economy initiatives, while developing a national carbon market,” he said.Calling for stronger international partnerships, the prime minister said Bangladesh could not achieve its climate goals in isolation.“Collective action based on ‘Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities’ is imperative,” he said, adding, “Bangladesh seeks partnerships that help us implement our plans.”Reiterating his five-point proposal, Tarique Rahman called for global emissions reductions to keep the 1.5-degree Celsius warming limit within reach under the Paris Agreement. He also stressed the need for predictable and accessible adaptation finance for climate-vulnerable countries and greater access to climate-smart technologies to facilitate a just and equitable climate transition.The meeting was attended by heads of state and government, representatives of international organisations, multilateral development banks, businesses and civil society.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, on Tuesday attended a dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in honour of world leaders attending the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).Heads of state and government of UN member states, along with their spouses, attended the dinner at the luxury Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York.Earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Dr Zubaida Rahman attended a breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in honour of heads of state and government and their spouses.

NEW YORK, Sept 21: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived in New York on Monday evening to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with Bangladeshi expatriates and BNP leaders and activists staging various programmes to welcome him.A Turkish Airlines flight carrying the Prime Minister, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and members of his entourage landed at John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport at 6:20pm local time after a stopover in Istanbul, Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony told BSS.The Prime Minister was received at the airport by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York Irene Zubaida Khan and Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam.He was then escorted by a motorcade to the Hyatt Grand Central New York, where he will stay during his visit.BNP leaders and activists and members of the Bangladeshi expatriate community gathered outside the airport and along the roads leading to the hotel, carrying banners, posters and festoons and chanting slogans to welcome the Prime Minister.As the motorcade passed through the streets, they waved at the Prime Minister, who reciprocated by waving back.Jackson Heights, a major hub of the Bangladeshi community in New York, was also decorated with banners, posters and festoons to welcome him.The Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver his address to the UNGA on September 24.September 22According to the programme schedule, the Prime Minister’s engagements will begin with a welcome breakfast hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for heads of state and government and their spouses at the UN Headquarters.He will then attend the opening session of the 81st UNGA and hold a series of bilateral and courtesy meetings, including with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.He is also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop, European Council President António Costa, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and Meta Platforms’ Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan.In the evening, the Prime Minister and his wife will attend a reception hosted by the US President for heads of state and government and their spouses.September 23On September 23, the Prime Minister will attend a breakfast meeting with representatives of international charitable and humanitarian organisations at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the UN.He will later join a high-level side event on the Rohingya crisis titled “The Rohingya Crisis: A Renewed Call for a Durable Solution from Protracted Displacement, with Justice and Accountability”.He will also participate in a high-level meeting on “Climate Action and the Just Transition” at the UN Headquarters and is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.Boeing Global President Dr Brendan Nelson is also scheduled to call on the Prime Minister at his hotel, where a signing ceremony involving Bangladesh government representatives is also scheduled.September 24On September 24, the Prime Minister will attend a high-level meeting on the existential threats posed by sea-level rise and deliver the opening remarks.He will also hold a bilateral meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and attend a high-level event titled “From Commitment to Action: Integrating Midwifery into Primary Health Care to End Preventable Maternal and Newborn Deaths”, where he will deliver the opening remarks.The Prime Minister will meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul before attending the general debate of the 81st UNGA.He is scheduled to deliver his address at around 5:30pm New York time, although the timing may change. His allotted speaking time is 15 minutes.Following his UNGA address, the Prime Minister will attend a dinner hosted in his honour by Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN at the Bangladesh Permanent Mission.September 25On September 25, the Prime Minister will attend a breakfast meeting with Wall Street representatives hosted by JPMorgan at its headquarters in Manhattan.He will then hold a bilateral meeting with Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and is scheduled to have a lunch meeting with Prince Zeid Al Hussein, President of the International Peace Institute.The Prime Minister will also meet BNP leaders in the United States before leaving New York for Dhaka at 11:00pm local time by Emirates flight EK202 via Dubai.He is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on September 27./bss