Saima Wazed Hossain, Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Thematic Ambassador for Vulnerability, has laid emphasis on CVF-COP26 resilience action plan to address climate change and mental health challenges at a high-level dialogue titled ‘CVF-COP 26 Dialogue: Meeting the Survival Deadline towards Maximal Resilience.’

“For helping the most vulnerable and the marginalised individuals and communities, including persons with a disability, health conditions and diverse cultural and religious belief, cope with the trauma of extreme climate events and natural disasters, we must learn from the best practices of the climate-resilient population”, she said.

In his speech as the Guest of Honour Lord Goldsmith reiterated the UK’s call to the governments for stepping up on finance for nature-based solutions (NBS), which provides around a third of the most cost-effective climate change mitigation. He emphasised UK’s ambitious climate action plans as President-elect of COP26 as well as its long-term strategies towards a net-zero by 2050.

The UK minister praised Bangladesh’s nature-based resilient programme. He also reaffirmed COP26 Presidency’s willingness to work closely with Bangladesh Presidency of the CVF and UK’s climate financing commitments to support CVF countries’ ambitious adaptation and resilience plans.

Chaired by Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem as part of the newly formed CVF High Commissioners/Ambassadors Forum in London, Lord Zac Goldsmith, Minister for Pacific, the Environment and COP26 at the UK FCDO, Mr. Md. Shahriar Alam MP, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh,

Mr. Abul Kalam Azad, Special Envoy to Bangladesh Presidency of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, presented the keynote paper at the dialogue earlier this week.

Bangladesh High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem in her opening remarks said “the newly formed High Commissioners/Ambassadors CVF in London, Bangladesh High Commissioner will organise few more dialogues with the COP26 Presidency towards common aspirations and ambitions leading up to the COP26, including a joint summit of CVF-COP26 Presidencies.!

In his presentation, Mr. Abul Kalam Azad highlighted the five key-areas of Bangladesh’s CVF Presidency including its first CVF Presidency in 2011-13, Midnight Survival Deadline, CVF-COP26 collaboration, climate prosperity plan and update on CVF activities.

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Matiar Chowdhury is a journalist and writer