Social watchdogs and development activists at a human chain in Rajshahi on Saturday unequivocally called for a full-length implementation of the ‘Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan’ for the successful promotion of climate-resilient energies.
They mentioned that the present government has adopted the plan in 2021 aimed at transforming Bangladesh into a climate-resilient and high-income country by 2041.
To this end, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the UN Climate Conference in December 2021 has expressed her commitment to ensure 40 per cent renewable energy by 2041.
Bangladesh Working Group on External Debt (BWGED), Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) and Paribartan jointly organized the meeting at the Chamber Bhaban area to put forth the demand.
Paribartan Director Rashed Ibne Obayed, Director of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association Advocate Dil Sitara Chuni, president of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad Rajshahi unit Kolpona Roy, its Secretary Anjana Sarker, Nurul Alam Masud from BWGED and Mehedi Hassan from CLEAN addressed the meeting.
The speakers unanimously opined substantial and sustainable protection of the environment and natural resources together with the promotion and use of renewable energies is very important for protecting both climate and life.
They viewed there as an enormous scope for reducing the gradually increasing pressure on fossil fuels by boosting the use of renewable energies in both rural and urban areas.
The time has come to protect the natural resources including the wetlands and water bodies for restoring the green atmosphere.
Rashed Ibne Obayed mentioned that instead of depending on only the fossil fuel emphasis should be given to enriching the renewable energy sources to face the energy challenges.
Availability of energy from different sources is vital for the present life in meeting the challenge of the ever-increasing demand for energy.
In her remarks, Advocate Dil Sitara Chuni mentioned the adverse impact of climate change has been posing a serious threat to the overall living and livelihood condition in the region including its vast Barind tract.
She viewed climate change as being acknowledged as the depletion of natural resources and as a major threat to humanity in the region and urged the policy planners and others concerned to take immediate effective measures to address the adverse impact of the change caused by global warming.
