State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam has said the Paris Agreement, SDGs and Sendai Framework must be fully implemented to address the root causes of climate-induced migration and displacement. He made this remark yesterday while speaking in a webinar, joined virtually from Dhaka, on ‘Climate Change and Migration and Displacement Nexus.’ The webinar was organized by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in Geneva under the auspices of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF). Mentionable, Bangladesh is currently leading the 55 member Forum for the second term. 

 

Mentioning that Bangladesh is at the forefront of the climate crisis, the State Minister said that migration and displacement of a staggering number of people are inevitable unless climate actions are not accelerated globally. He also highlighted the adaptation and mitigation measures taken by the Government of Bangladesh to combat climate change under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He emphasized that migration is a potential adaptation means for people living in the most vulnerable countries. He urged the major emitters to meet the mitigation target swiftly. Emphasizing on ensuring justice for the climate induced migrants, the State Minister urged the developed countries to provide necessary finance and technology support to the most vulnerable countries. 

 

António Vitorino, Director-General, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives France, Egypt and Germany, Charge d'affaires of Ghana, and representatives from different stakeholders spoke in the discussion.

 

The Director-General of IOM underscored that SDGs would not be achieved without strong climate action. He stressed that climate-induced displacement and human mobility need to be fully integrated into the climate discourses, particularly in COP27. The High Commissioner for Refugees stated that the international community must recognize the need of protection and humanitarian assistance for climate -affected people.  Other panellists called for the urgent climate actions along with accelerated support for resilience building to the climate-vulnerable countries.  

 

Md. Mustafizur Rahman, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh in Geneva, moderated the webinar. In addition to diplomats from different countries, the event was attended by representatives from many international organizations, media, academia, think tank and civil society.