The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organised a workshop today (02 April) as part of the recently developed National Adaptation Plan (NAP) validation process. The MoEFCC is implementing the Formulation and Advancement of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) in Bangladesh project with support from UNDP and funded by the Green Climate Fund.

The draft NAP has been developed based on the opinions and feedback from the stakeholders, including the climate-vulnerable people, communities, individuals, women, youth, public officials and climate change experts. More than 30 consultations took place at the national, divisional, district and upazilla levels in 11 climate stress areas in the most climate-vulnerable regions across Bangladesh. NAP identified 14 climate hazards that include extreme temperature, erratic rainfall, riverine flood, riverbank erosion, drought, cyclone and storm surge, sea-level rise, salinity intrusion, flash flood, landslide, cold snap, lightning, urban flood and ocean acidification.

Mr Md Shahab Uddin, MP, Honorable Minister, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) was present as the Chief Guest. Ms Habibun Nahar, MP, Honorable Deputy Minister, MoEFCC; Mr Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP, Honorable Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on the MoEFCC and Ms Van Nguyen, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP were present as Special Guests. Mr Md Mostafa Kamal, Secretary, MoEFCC Chaired the workshop.

Dr Ainun Nishat, Professor Emeritus, C3ER, BRAC University and Team Leader, NAP Formulation Consortium, made a presentation on adaptation strategies and interventions, while Mr Malik Fida A Khan, Executive Director, CEGIS presented the draft NAP.

Welcoming the participants, Mr Md Mizanul Hoque Chowdhury, Additional Secretary (Climate Change Wing) and National Project Director, NAP said, “The NAP has been a very participatory process. We have conducted a series of consultations and focus group discussions in the most climate-vulnerable regions to make it a locally-led adaptation process”. He also presented a set of recommendations derived from these consultations, which include, among others, rainwater harvesting, efficient use of groundwater, arresting salinity, basin wise river management etc. 

Ms Van Nguyen said, “I am hopeful that NAP will strategise sustainable adaptation solutions for Bangladesh and mainstream it in the national development planning”. She expressed her high hope that Bangladesh will leverage domestic and international financing options for its successful implementation.

Mr Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP said, “Bangladesh does not have any risk index, which is critically important for designing sustainable resilience plan. We also need to develop country risk profile”. “Furthermore, we must have a clear picture of the benefits against adaptation investment”, he added. 

Ms Habibun Nahar, MP said, “Our adaptation effort must include local government institutions for successful implementation of the NAP”. She emphasised innovating smart techniques to preserve natural water.”

Mr Md Shahab Uddin, MP said, “We will seriously consider the opinions of the stakeholders in finalising the NAP.” “For successful implementation of the NAP, the capacity enhancement will be our priority among others – our ministry will work closely with all the public and private  institutions in the NAP process.”

Mr Md Mostafa Kamal said, “The NAP process has been very participatory. In finalising this national document, we will work closely with the key ministries and departments and address their concerns.”

The draft NAP has proposed 110 interventions to turn Bangladesh into a climate-resilient country. The NAP process is built upon strong cooperation between government agencies, civil society, academics and inclusion of the vulnerable people and communities in the adaptation initiatives by making it a locally-led process. The final NAP will pinpoint sectoral and regional adaptation issues, strategise finance, promote intra-agency coordination and encourage the participation of cross-sectoral experts.

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