BCCTF supports 800 projects with $480m

The Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) has allocated $480 million from its own resources to support 800 projects in pursuit of building the country’s climate resilience.

Making the disclosure in an international conference on Saturday, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin urged the academics and researchers to carry out more research on climate issues, read a press release.

The government has given due consideration on the needs of scientific research centring on climate change issues, the minister said while addressing the 1st International Conference on “Environment Climate Change and Ecosystem Restoration,” organised by the Khulna University.

Deputy Minister of the ministry Begum Habibun Nahar, Vice Chancellor of Khulna University Professor Mahmood Hossain spoke at the event, and Professor Emeritus Dr Ainun Nishat presented the keynote paper.

At the event, Shahab Uddin said, “Whenever the ministry gets research proposals from academia and other renowned research organisations seeking funding from the BCCTF, the agency gives the highest consideration on a priority basis.

“I am urging all academics to conduct more credible scientific research on climate change and ecosystem restorations in the country’s context, so that government decisions and resource allocations can be backed by scientific knowledge and facts.”

Under the 10-year plan, the trust fund helped build more resilient flood defenses and cyclone shelters, strengthened disaster management systems, improved food security through introduction of salinity, drought and flood tolerant crop varieties, and funded climate research.

“We have installed more than six million solar home systems in off grid areas throughout Bangladesh, ensuring supply of solar electricity to 18 million people,” he said, adding that the government planted more than 10 million tree saplings last year marking the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Shahab Uddin said the government is now preparing the National Adaptation Plan, which will be the main vehicle to address adaptation at the national level.