KATHMANDU: Bangladesh’s Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, expressed grave concerns about the existential threat posed to Bangladesh by the melting snow in the Nepal Himalayas due to climate change. Speaking at the ‘Global Dialogue on Mountain, People and Climate’ in Kathmandu, Chowdhury underscored that climate change has significantly impacted the Himalayas, leading to accelerated snow melting, which could result in catastrophic flooding in Bangladesh.

Highlighting the downstream and coastal regions of Bangladesh as particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change-induced snowmelt, Chowdhury stressed the urgent need for proactive measures and heightened vigilance to mitigate these risks. He emphasized the importance of international efforts to minimize the adverse effects of climate change and enhance climate resilience, noting the disproportionate burden borne by developing countries like Nepal and Bangladesh, despite contributing minimally to global carbon emissions.

Chowdhury called upon developed nations, which account for the majority of global carbon emissions, to fulfill their commitments made at various climate conferences regarding carbon emission reduction. He stressed the imperative for collective action to address climate change, emphasizing that government efforts alone are insufficient. Chowdhury reiterated the importance of allocating adequate resources and demonstrating political will to effectively tackle poverty and mitigate climate change impacts.

The ‘Global Dialogue on Mountain, People and Climate’ is attended by experts from 25 countries, along with representatives from mountainous and small island nations, the international community, development partners, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and civil society. The dialogue aims to facilitate discussions on coordinating, prioritizing, and strengthening climate-resilient activities based on mountain ecosystems, with the goal of fostering collaboration and enhancing climate adaptation efforts globally.