Yunus asks to put extra effort to focus on climate crisis in Baku

Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus on Monday asked the Bangladesh officials and NGO and civil society leaders to put up extra efforts to highlight the country's climate crisis at the COP-29 in Baku.

He made the call just after he arrived in the Azerbaijan capital to lead Bangladesh in the annual UN Climate Change Conference, according to a message received in Dhaka, reports BSS.

"Our main efforts will be to include our concerns and demands in the final declaration of the COP-29," Prof Yunus told the Bangladesh delegation during a coordination meeting at a hotel in Baku.

In the meeting, Environment Secretary Farhina Ahmed briefed the officials about Bangladesh's stand on some key issues of the conference.

She said Bangladesh has set up nine teams to negotiate in all major areas, including climate finance, loss and mitigation, and just transition and adaptation mechanisms in the summit.

At least 29 NGOs and civil society groups from Bangladesh are joining the COP-29, she said.

She said despite assurance from the rich countries in the Global North, Bangladesh has so far received US$ 344 million grants and US$ 250 million credit as climate finance.

The Chief Adviser will join the main summit of COP-29 on Tuesday and speak in at least three major events.