Speakers at a seminar on Wednesday underscored the need for building resilient infrastructure in the country as the climate change impact affects Bangladesh's overall socio-economic development seriously.
Highlighting on the financing gap between the funds mobilised and required every year, they also said public-private partnership model could play a vital role in this regard.
They made the views at a seminar on 'Scope of Climate Smart PPP in Bangladesh and Post-COP26 Discussion'. Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) in association with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bangladesh organised the event at a city hotel.
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain attended the programme as the chief guest while Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Md Mostafa Kamal and UNDP Resident Representative Sudipto Mukerjee as the special guests and British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson as a guest of honour.
Chaired by Chief Executive Officer of PPPA Sultana Afroz, it was also addressed, among others, by Danish Ambassador to Dhaka Winnie Estrup Petersen and Turkish Ambassador Mustafa Osman Turan.
In his speech, State Minister Farhad Hossain said Bangladesh is implementing various climate change related projects like power generation from renewable sources.
"This is the time we need to place emphasis on climate smart PPP projects," he said, highlighting the need for global awareness and greater coordination among stakeholders to address the climate change impacts.
High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson said Bangladesh needs huge foreign direct investment for sustaining its growth trajectory as it is in the process to graduate as a middle-income country.
Energy efficiency, clean energy, economic and social infrastructure, solid waste management, and pollution prevention are some of the areas those need finance for which PPP model could be used, he said.
A move is underway to launch a partnership between Bangladesh and United Kingdom to mobilize 120 million pound climate change partnership, he added.
Ms Sultana Afroz highlighted on the role and development initiatives taken by PPPA and its achievements. "Some 79 projects are in the pipeline, representing various sectors including transport, health and housing worth estimated total investment of $29.23 billion," she said.
Climate Change Specialist of UNDP Bangladesh A.K.M Mamunur Rashid, Senior Assistant Secretary to PPPA Mohsina Akter Banu, and Founding President and board member of BUILD Bangladesh Farhadur Reza made three presentations on relevant issues.
Mr Mamunur Rashid made the presentation on Bangladesh's climate ambitions, fiscal framework and innovative finance landscape.
