Desk News || The government has formed a 25-member National Committee on Climate Finance (NCCF), with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman serving as its chair. The committee has been established to bring climate financing, carbon credits and carbon trading activities under a coordinated and effective national framework.According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Tuesday, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will lead the committee. Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has been appointed as vice-chair, while Dr. Md. Saimum Parvez, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, will be responsible for coordinating the committee's activities.The secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will serve as the member-secretary.Other members include State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Health Dr. S. M. Ziauddin Haider, and Mahdi Amin, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Education, Primary and Mass Education, Expatriates' Welfare and Foreign Employment, and Labour and Employment.The committee will also include the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and secretaries of several ministries and divisions, including Local Government Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Ministry of Land, Power Division, Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Commerce, Road Transport and Highways Division, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, and Ministry of Water Resources.A key responsibility of the newly formed committee will be to establish Bangladesh's national vision, targets and strategic priorities concerning climate finance and carbon credits. It will also provide broad policy guidance on matters related to climate financing and carbon credits.In line with Bangladesh's international commitments, including Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, the NCCF will advise on the development, approval and implementation of a national framework for carbon credits and climate finance. It will also provide policy guidance for carbon trading in Bangladesh and oversee the activities of the Designated National Authority responsible for implementing Article 6.The committee will be responsible for finalising policies, strategies and guidelines related to climate finance, as well as recommending necessary changes to existing policies and institutional frameworks.It will also coordinate with bilateral and multilateral climate funds and international development partners, develop strategies for mobilising climate finance, and monitor and evaluate the progress of relevant programmes and projects.In addition, the NCCF will oversee the work of implementation and technical committees dealing with climate finance, review their reports and provide necessary instructions. It will also take decisions to resolve inter-ministerial policy issues and complications related to climate financing.Under the notification, the committee will meet at least twice a year. Additional meetings may be convened whenever necessary. The committee may also co-opt new members if required.The NCCF became effective immediately following the issuance of the government notification.