The COP-29 climate conference is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan to deal with climate change and its effects. The chief adviser of the interim government will participate in the conference, Nobel laureate economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus. He will make an official visit to Azerbaijan on November 11-14 to participate in the conference.
This information is known from the sources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A responsible official of the ministry said on condition of anonymity that the COP-29 climate conference is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22. The chief adviser will participate in the conference. He will pay a state visit to Azerbaijan from November 11 to 14.
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted on August 5 in an anti-discrimination student uprising. After the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 8. An interim government was formed under the leadership of Yunus. After the formation of the government. Yunus made his first foreign visit to the United States. Last September, the Chief Adviser attended the 79th United Nations General Session in New York. After New York, the chief adviser will go to Azerbaijan to attend the COP-29 conference in his second foreign visit.
Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that preparations are underway for the Chief Adviser’s participation in the COP-29 conference. Bangladesh, one of the climate risk countries, will present its claims in Baku. However, they do not want to reveal what issues will be put on the agenda.
When asked, an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Bangladesh is one of the climate risk countries. Again, Bangladesh is playing a leading role in combating climate change. Bangladesh will definitely speak for the developing countries along with presenting their position. Since the Chief Adviser will go, Bangladesh will have importance in the conference, and Bangladesh will have good items on the agenda.
It is assumed that the problems that Bangladesh is facing due to climate change in Baku will be highlighted in the conference. In this regard, Bangladesh will highlight the damage caused due to floods in various districts including the eastern part of the country in recent times. Climate change damage funds, the ‘Loss and Damage Fund’, the Paris Agreement Fund and climate refugees are likely to be highlighted. Besides, Bangladesh can seek help in green technology from developed countries.
Diplomatic sources said the Chief Adviser will attend the Climate Conference as well as hold courtesy calls and meetings with heads of state and government in Baku.
In 2023, the COP-28 conference was held in the United Arab Emirates. In 2022, COP-27 was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The former head of government of Bangladesh did not participate in those two conferences. However, in 2021, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina participated in the COP-26 conference in Glasgow, Scotland. In 2020, the COP conference was not held due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Incidentally, COP is the abbreviation of Conference of the Parties. It is a United Nations initiative to combat climate change-related disasters in the world. In 1995, the first conference of COP was held. The issue of ‘climate change’ came up for the first time in 1999 at the COP climate conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
