PM receives maiden GCA Local Adaptation Champions Award

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the Local Adaptation Champions Award of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) as Bangladesh won the maiden award for its leading role in introducing local adaptation programme to face climate change impacts.

GCA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen on Tuesday handed over the award to the Prime Minister while paying a courtesy call on her at her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital, reports BSS.

"Bangladesh has won the award for its leading role in taking locally formulated climate adaptation programme," PM's Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan told a news briefing.

He said the Bangladesh Prime Minister will be in the process of selecting the next awardee according to the rule of GCA as her country won the award this time.

Bangladesh, the first government to receive the global Local Adaptation Champions Award, won in the Innovation in Devolving Finance category for the Local Government Initiative on Climate Change (LoGIC).

After receiving the award, the Premier said, “I am deeply honored to accept this prestigious award on behalf of the Government and people of Bangladesh, whose unwavering resilience and innovative spirit have always guided us through natural adversities."

“This recognition underscores our commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience, and we are grateful for the Global Center on Adaptation’s invaluable support in our journey towards a prosperous and resilient future,” she continued.

The Prime Minister informed Verkooijen of the measures taken by her government to counter the climate change impacts.

Quoting the Prime Minister, Nayeemul Islam said," We have established the climate trust fund with our own finances."

The Prime Minister and the CEO of GCA agreed that the developed countries did not comply with their pledges to give their promised money to the climate fund to help the poor countries vulnerable to climate changes.

Verkooijen appreciated the Bangladesh Prime Minister for her role in providing money from the climate fund in different international programmes and requested her to be more vocal to this demand.

He urged the Prime Minister to take prompt measures to release money from the climate fund of Denmark, otherwise, the money will be sent back by December.

The GCA has proposed to build an iconic nature-based floating office adjacent to Dhaka likewise as its office at Rotterdam in the Netherlands which drew global appreciation due to its uniqueness.

The Prime Minister suggested considering areas in and outside Dhaka to build the office.

Verkooijen appreciated the role of the Prime Minister in climate change and locally developed adaptation programme to face climate change.

"I was encouraged by your role to this end. Wherever I go, I refer to Bangladesh and you (PM) for climate adaptation. So, you may consider me as your envoy," Nayeemul Islam quoted the CEO of GCA as saying.

PM's Ambassador-at-Large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, Mohammad Salahuddin, among others, were present.