Online Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said mutual support is the only means for the existence of mankind and the Earth. “The reality is humans and our Mother Earth can exist only by mutual support,” she said. The prime minister was addressing the ‘Session: One Earth’ in the G20 Leaders’ Summit 2023 at the Bharat Mandapam Center (ECC) at the Pragati Maidan here. The theme for this G20 summit is “One Earth, One Family, One Future.”

For the existence of the humans and the Earth, Sheikh Hasina also has called for a global order which should pave solutions to poverty alleviation, mitigating climate change effects, preventing conflicts, and financing technological transfer for a knowledge-based society. “We want a global order which should pave solutions to poverty alleviation, mitigating climate change effects, preventing conflicts, and financing technological transfer for a knowledge-based society,” she said.

The prime minister said, this summit is taking place at a time when the Earth is impacted by multiple crises of climate change, COVID-19 pandemic, and challenges of sanctions and counter-sanctions. “These challenges make it imperative for all to embrace the vision of one community with shared future for mankind, for peace and development,” she said.

Bangladesh, despite making a negligible contribution to global climate change, has suffered the most as a victim of its consequences, she said. “Therefore, our development endeavours are focused on green and sustainable development. Now, we are also taking circular economy approaches,” she said. She mentioned that Bangladesh endorses the campaign of LIFESTYLE movement launched by Prime Minister Modi to promote environmentally conscious practices.

According to the World Bank’s Groundswell Report 2021, impacts of Climate Change may drive 13.3 million people from their usual habitats by 2050. “Though Bangladesh has little scope for mitigation, we have undertaken many transformative measures to tackle perilous impacts of climate change consistent with implementing the Paris Agreement, and achieving the SDGs,” she saddes.

In 1997, the PM Hasina said she initiated a project named Ashrayan, or shelter for homeless. Under this initiative, till August this year, the government has rehabilitated nearly 840,000 landless and homeless families with houses and land at free of cost. “Our target is to have Bangladesh free of homeless and landless people,” she informed the world leaders.

Hasina said Bangladesh is known for ‘Role Model for Disaster Management’ and it has made robust gains in disaster preparedness and climate adaptation. “For disaster response, we have built 4,530 cyclone shelters. We are now constructing 550 more cyclone shelters called ‘Mujib Killas’ on raised grounds for multiple uses.” She appreciated Indian Prime Minister Modi’s initiative for Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and Bangladesh joined the platform in July, 2021. “We have launched ‘Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan’ to put Bangladesh from ‘vulnerability to resilience to climate prosperity,” she said. She also said her government has formulated long-term Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 with the aim of building a resilient and prosperous delta for our future generations.

In 2022, her government launched the National Adaptation Plan, with a projected need for USD 230 billion by 2050. “We urge active support from developed nations in this regard,” she said. As one of the Champions of the UN Secretary General’s Global Crisis Response Group, constituted in 2022, Sheikh Hasina reiterated her four proposals for the sake of the existence of mankind and the Earth.

These are:

First – Strengthen global solidarity and adopt coordinated response to address global crisis. Here G-20 and international financial institutions have a crucial role to play. “Bangladesh is ready to support their efforts for tailoring actionable recommendations to tackle the crisis,” she said.

Second- Bold, concrete and concerted actions must be taken at the global level for ensuring global peace and stability for greater benefit of humanity. “All major economies should act upon their due responsibilities, for the cause of global development.”

Third –operationalise Loss and Damage Fund as early as possible for creating additional financing mechanisms to address climate induced migration. “In the upcoming COP28, I would urge all to emphasize the implementation of the fund for loss and damage with accountability and transparency.” Finally – All human beings should have equal rights to live decent life. The global community must not forget ensuring return of the unfortunate forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals to Myanmar and must continue their humanitarian support.

“We look forward to working with G20 partners to strengthen and save our Earth. We need to recommit ourselves to take care of each other and our Mother EARTH,” she said. Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was formally welcomed by G20 Chairman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the opening session of the G20 Summit at the Bharat Mandapam Centre.