Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said a radical change is needed in the global framework to address climate change impacts with a focus on net-zero carbon emissions and eliminating extreme resource inequality.

The current global economic system has to be upended and redesigned, he said, as it is centered on maximising profits, creating wealth for a tiny group of people and generating massive waste. Otherwise, changes to climate deals would be futile.

He made the remarks at an event titled “Climate Forward” organised by New York Times on Wednesday on the sidelines of UN General Assembly.

The New York Times hosted a day-long event involving innovators, activists, scientists and policymakers to discuss the steps needed to address climate change impacts. It was broadcast live from the New York Times Studios.

Anthropologist Jane Goodall also spoke, among others, at the event.

Prof Yunus discussed the challenges of leading a country facing adverse impacts of climate change.

When asked what rich countries owe to countries like Bangladesh, he said climate actions should be taken focusing on net-zero carbon emissions and eliminating extreme resource inequality.

"Why should we bear the burden of destruction that you have imposed on us?" the chief adviser questioned.

"The economic system we have built is key to the destruction of this planet," said Yunus. He added that humans had created a "self-destructive civilisation."

The Nobel laureate and pioneer of microfinance said that no matter what changes were made to the agreement, it would not make a difference until the world's underlying systems were redesigned.