Sea is rising fast; action must rise faster: PM to world

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for faster and deeper global emission cuts, predictable climate finance and greater access to climate technologies, warning that rising sea levels pose an existential threat to vulnerable coastal countries such as Bangladesh.

“Vulnerable countries like Bangladesh cannot face the grave consequences of sea-level rise alone,” he said in his opening statement at a high-level meeting on addressing the existential threats posed by sea-level rise at the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday.

The prime minister said Bangladesh, an active delta where hundreds of rivers meet the sea, has its prosperity and future closely tied to its coast.

Citing a World Bank estimate, he said a 25-centimetre rise in sea level by 2050 could submerge around 4% of Bangladesh’s land, potentially affecting the homes, livelihoods and human dignity of about 10 million people.

“Despite limited resources, we are doing our best to delay such a disastrous future. Among other measures, we have built early-warning systems, strengthened cyclone preparedness, and invested in coastal protection,” he said.

Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh had also set ambitious targets to strengthen climate resilience over the next five years.

“We are taking ambitious steps to strengthen climate resilience. Over the next five years, we aim to dig around 20,000 kilometres of rivers and canals, advance the Padma Barrage initiative to retain and reserve water, modernise the Teesta Barrage with a master plan, and plant 250 million trees,” he said.

The government is also pursuing a green-growth strategy, targeting at least 20% renewable electricity by 2030, with a particular focus on solar power, he said.

It is also promoting green industries and eco-friendly transport, developing a national carbon market, and strengthening the protection of forests, wetlands and vulnerable coastal ecosystems.

However, the prime minister stressed that adaptation measures alone would not be enough to address the consequences of climate change.

“The ocean reacts to every tonne of carbon the world releases,” he said, calling for changes in consumption patterns to reduce carbon emissions.
Tarique Rahman outlined four urgent actions for the international community.

First, he called for global emissions to be cut “faster, deeper, and more fairly” to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach.

Second, he urged the international community to ensure predictable and accessible adaptation finance for climate-vulnerable countries.

Third, he called for expanded access to climate-smart technologies, data and early-warning systems for vulnerable coastal nations.

Finally, he sought stronger international cooperation to address climate-induced displacement, loss and damage, and to ensure dignified pathways for communities displaced by sea-level rise.

“The sea is rising fast. Our ambition must rise faster. We must act now to safeguard our future and the future of generations to come,” the prime minister said.

He expressed hope that countries would work together to translate the commitments in the declaration adopted at the meeting into concrete action and ensure that no nation is left behind in the face of rising sea levels.

“Let our resolve rise with the sea, and let our action rise even faster,” Tarique Rahman said.

Other engagements

The prime minister held a bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif later in the day.

The two South Asian leaders discussed strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation in areas including trade, investment, education, defence and regional cooperation, amid efforts to revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Tarique Rahman was also scheduled to exchange greetings with Sweden’s foreign minister and pose for photographs before participating in the high-level event, “From Commitment to Action: Integrating Midwifery into Primary Health Care to End Preventable Maternal and Newborn Deaths”, at UN headquarters.

The Bangladesh premier was to deliver the opening statement, while his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman was expected to deliver the closing statement.

The prime minister was also scheduled to meet UN Secretary-General António Guterres, where he was expected to highlight his government’s initiatives and its vision for a “new Bangladesh”.

A bilateral meeting with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was also scheduled at the UN Bilateral Booth.

The prime minister’s biggest engagement of the day was expected to be his maiden address to the UN General Assembly as Bangladesh’s prime minister.

It would be the third address to the UN General Assembly by a member of his family, following those by his parents, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and late prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia.

In his address, Tarique Rahman was expected to highlight Bangladesh’s political transition following the election, which the government describes as having been held through a free and fair electoral process after years of undemocratic rule and tightly controlled polls.

He was also expected to outline his vision for Bangladesh’s future and its role in advancing global peace, sustainable development and solutions to international crises.

Key issues expected to feature in the address included the protracted Rohingya crisis, equitable access to modern technologies, reform of the multilateral system, global peace and security, climate change, sustainable development and international economic cooperation.

Tarique Rahman was scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by the Office of the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in the evening.

Today, on the final day of his UNGA visit, Tarique Rahman is scheduled to begin with a breakfast meeting with Wall Street representatives hosted by JPMorgan at its headquarters.

He is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah of Kuwait. A luncheon meeting with Prince Zeid Al Hussein, president of the International Peace Institute, is also planned at the Hyatt Grand Central New York Hotel.

He was further scheduled to attend a courtesy meeting with BNP leaders in the United States.

Tarique Rahman is due to leave New York for Bangladesh at 11pm local time and is expected to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 8:40am on Sunday.