In the past 20 years from 1999 to 2018, globally 12,000 extreme weather events occurred that cost about 5,00,000 lives with a property loss of US$3.54 trillion. Bangladesh alone, in the same period, faced about 200 extreme events. It is predicted that by 2030 the number of extreme events will be doubled and by 2050 it will be 4 to 5 times if carbon emission continuous to happen at the present rate. If global temperature rises by 2 degrees, it will cause a loss of US$ 69 trillion globally by 2100, and limiting of carbon emission to 1.5-degree, as it is committed in Paris agreement, would still cause US$ 54 trillion property loss.
Along with flood, draught, riverbank erosion, cyclone, sea level rise, land slide, glacier melting and avalanches, the current unprecedented Covid-19 is also an outcome of climate change and global warming. Bangladesh is one of the worst affected countries in terms of climate vulnerability. Germanwatch, a German Research Institute, in their report of 2020 ranked Bangladesh as the seventh vulnerable country of the globe. According to the same report, Bangladesh showed exemplary progress in climate resilience. In Climate Resilience Index (CRI) 2018 Bangladesh is not included in the top 10 list though it is third among the countries hit by disasters. About pandemic Covid-19, up to first week of October the world faced a loss of more than one million lives and 36 million people got infected. Bangladesh also faced a loss of 5,405 lives due to Covid-19 until the first week of October 2020. During this pandemic, global poverty rate increased to 8.8% from 8.2% in 2019. Globally, at least 71 million people added to the number of extreme poor. And in south Asia alone, 32 million people added to the lowest tier of poverty.
In the past 10 years from 2008-2018, literacy rate increased from 54% to 74.7%, and Per capita income went up from US$ 686 in 2008 to US$ 2064 in 2020. GDP growth 6% now, it was 8.1 % before the pandemic. Life expectancy increased from 69% to 72.6%. Export earnings ballooned to US$ 40+ billion in 2018-19 from a meager US$ 14 billion in 2008. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased from US$ 0.74 billion to US$ 3.88 billion in 2019. In 2009, the country’s electricity generation capacity was only 3360MW and now it stands at 23,500MW.
In terms of implementation of LDC graduation in 2018, Bangladesh was recommended in all 3 parameters of LDC graduation which are GNI per capita, human asset index (HAI) and economical vulnerable index (EVI). We hope in the tri-annual review of 2021, Bangladesh will get 2nd recommendation of the UN to be declared graduated by 2024 with a scope to have benefits of LDC till 2027. A road map to achieve the LDC and also continuation is being prepared. While implementing the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) from 2000 to 2015, Bangladesh did very well in almost all the parameters, including reduction in the rate of poverty, underweight children, maternal mortality, under five mortality, HIV, TB, and increasing education facility, safe drinking water and basic sanitation, except in forest coverage. For these brilliant records of performance, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was awarded by different international agencies like South-South Corporation, UNICEF, Champion of the Earth, Planet 50-50 Champion, Agent of Change Award and so many.
While signing the SDG document in 2015, Honourable Prime Minister said, “I am confident that Bangladesh will be able to show its capacity in achieving SDGs the way it achieved MDG goals”.
We all know in SDG there are 232 indicators (revised) for 169 targets under 17 goals. SDG has 5 basics, 5P; First P is ‘Planet’; Protect our planet’s natural resources and climate for future generation. Second P is the ‘People’; end poverty and hunger in all forms and ensure dignity and equality. Third P is ‘Prosperity’; ensure prosperous and fulfilling lives in harmony with nature. The 4th P is ‘Peace’; foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies. The last P is the ‘Partnership’; implement the agenda through a solid global partnership. In SDG implementation sustainable development is at the core and the magic four world for implementing SDGs are ‘leaving no one behind’. In 17 SDGs, poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, energy, descent work, industries and innovative infrastructure, inequalities, sensible cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice and strong institution, finally partnership for the goals are addressed.
For ensuring that no one is left behind, the government has robust social safety net programs. In 2016, 28.7% families were beneficiaries of social safety net program. About 15% of our budget is spent on social safety net and human development programs. The government is committed to provide online payment system, financial inclusion. About 50% population have bank accounts, 5,875 one stop services delivery outlets including 8,500 post e-center to ensure service at the door-step for the citizens.
Regarding SDG implementation in Bangladesh, to ensure whole of the society approach, involvement of non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, professional groups, business people, media, women network and development partners are ensured. SDGs are aligned with the national plan of implementation namely strategy 2021, strategy 2041- and 5-year plans. When SDG started its journey, we had our 7th 5-year plan (2016-2020). It needs to be mentioned that 56 SDG targets directly reflected in the 7th 5-year plan and 102 targets are almost similar. Bangladesh at the Annual Performance Agreement with all the ministries incorporated relevant SDG targets. With three 5-year plan 7th, 8th and 9th, Bangladesh will implement SDG 2030.
Until now, Bangladesh had Implementation and Review Committee. From the very beginning, it translated the document into Bangla, mapping of ministries were done with all the SDG indicators and targets. All of the ministries had their action plans. Data gap analysis is done, also we had the resource gap analysis. A training handbook on 7th 5-year plan which will be used for SDG implementation, the action plan for localisation of SDG, monitoring and evaluation framework and also one SDG tracker is prepared. All these are the tools and means for implementation of SDG. While SDG mapping, the ministries were identified against each of the target and indicator as lead, co-lead and associate ministry.
The writer is a former Coordinator (SDG) and former Principal Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office.
