Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, MP, said the three-day 3rd Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU)-Media Summit on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction conference would open a new era in media involvement over climate change issues.
Finance Minister AMA Muhit will inaugurate the conference at a city hotel tomorrow.
The minister said this while speaking at a press conference at the Press Information Department (PID) conference room here today.
A "Dhaka Declaration" would be adopted at the conference and the declaration would be passed in the upcoming UN conference on disaster management to be held in Cancun, Mexico, the minister said.
The theme of this year`s conference is "Information for All: Media Saving Lives".
Elaborating on the theme, he said the media, particularly community radio, had played a vital role in minimising the loss of human lives in cyclones Sidr and Aila.
Appreciating the role of the media in highlighting the damage caused by the recent floods in the north-eastern swamp areas of the country, Inu said the information provided by the media helped the government to take prompt actions to mitigate the sufferings of people.
Explaining the correlation between natural disasters and climate change, he further said climate change had to be combated at three levels: local, regional and international.
"We cannot do it alone as it is a global problem, but we have to do our level best, as we are in the frontline of climate-related disasters," he said. The minister also referred to the award of the "Champions of the Earth` in 2015 by the UN to Bangladesh as a global recognition of the country`s role in combating climate change.
Replying to a query, the minister said 300 participants, including 50 overseas journalists, would take part in the conference.
The meeting will be organised by ABU in collaboration with Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar.
Source: BSS