Dhaka February 18 2025 :
Bangladesh often advocated for financial mechanisms to achieve energy efficiency improvements, with a focus on climate justice.
Joint research efforts on climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, and increased funding for green initiatives were demanded in the session and capacity building, training programs, scholarships, and workforce development initiatives were in focus among experts to build expertise in renewable energy and climate policy among Australia and Bangladesh.
They emphasized on green energy transition to mitigate climate change, providing sustainable solutions to energy needs, enhancing energy security, and creating new economic opportunities.
Such views were derived from a program titled ‘Bangladesh-Australia Climate Policy and Green Energy Transition’ organized by Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) on Tuesday at a city hotel.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bangladesh, Kristin Tilley, Australian Ambassador for Climate Change, Martin Holtmann, Country Manager, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Bangladesh were present during the session.
Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director at the (CPD) presented introductory presentation while Dr Fahmida Khatun is the Executive Director (CPD) presided the program.
Besides, Bangladesh had seen as highly committed to renewables but with a slower pace due to financial constraints and the need for international support.
Bangladesh actively called for greater financial support and technology transfer to meet its renewable energy goals in COP discussions.
Moreover, the country had consistently called for developed nations to honor their climate finance commitments and offers significant contributions despite its limited capacity.
The nation urged developed nations to honor $100 billion annual climate finance commitment and let the country develop capacity to mitigate climate change effects.
Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem during his presentation highlighted climate policies and climate actions, green energy transition, climate finance and strengthening partnership for green energy transition between Australia and Bangladesh.
Experts pointed out Indo-Pacific region is increasingly aligning economic growth with sustainability goals, emphasizing collaborative approaches among nations for holistic climate action.
According to them, Australia’s climate policy and climate action is emphasizing on climate actions that are reducing emissions, improving climate change adaptability & disaster resilience, international climate leadership and building government’s ability to fight climate change.
Australia’s Diplomacy on Climate Action, Climate Finance, and Green Energy Transition includes advocacy pushed for higher emissions reduction commitments from all countries under the Paris Agreement were highlighted by the experts during the session.
They have endorsed the decision to triple climate finance for developing countries to support mitigation and adaptation and joined the COP29 Hydrogen Declaration to accelerate global clean hydrogen deployment.
Australia had signed the Global Energy Storage and Grids Pledge to modernize electricity grids for better renewable integration and supported the call to action for no new coal in National Climate Plans, discouraging future coal projects.
Australia had partnered in the Clean Energy Finance Mission under the Global Clean Power Alliance (GCPA) to mobilize investment in renewables.
Climate finance scenario among Australia-Bangladesh is crucial. The objective of Australia’s development program 2023 is to advance an Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable, and prosperous.
A region that is predictable where differences are resolved by international law and norms, and where we can cooperate, trade, and thrive.
To achieve this requires sustainable development and lifting people out of poverty.
Bangladesh will work together with our partners in Australia and abroad to build a development program that is fit for our times.
To be more effective and responsive to the priorities of our region, Bangladesh will build more genuine and respectful partnerships, including by refreshing our approach to country and regional plans.
Bangladesh needs to support all people to fulfill their potential, including through new international strategies for gender equality, and disability equity and rights.
The country needs to respond the calls of our region and evidence of the accelerating climate crisis by increasing our climate investments and better addressing climate risks.
There are needs to support local leadership and local actors, including through a new Civil Society Partnerships Fund and develop a new humanitarian strategy to ensure delivery of results for people affected by crises.
Thus, help communities building resilience and use more innovative development financing to expand available funding.
There is need of strengthening joint research efforts on climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, and increased funding for green initiatives.
Advancing offshore renewable energy, marine conservation, and climate-resilient coastal infrastructure through joint research and technology sharing.
Expansion of collaboration in solar, wind, hydro and other renewable energy to boost Bangladesh’s renewable energy capacity with Australian technology and investment were underscored during the session.
Enhancing knowledge exchange on climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable land management to improve resilience in vulnerable regions was been highlighted.
Establishing bilateral partnerships to accelerate the adoption of green and renewable technologies, energy-efficient systems, and smart grid solutions were urged by the experts in the program.
Identifying areas of alignment between Bangladesh’s Green and Renewable Energy related Policies & Plans including MCPP 2030 with Australia’s net-zero targets, climate policy ensuring a shared commitment to a greener future were also under scored by the experts.
More policy dialogue and regional cooperation to expand policy dialogues to share best practices, foster regional partnerships, and advocate for increased international climate finance were also emphasized by the speakers during the discussion.
Collaboration Advancing offshore renewable energy, marine conservation, and climate-resilient coastal infrastructure through joint research and technology sharing were also highlighted in the discussion.
Experts, activists, media personalities, development partners, among others, took part during the session.
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