John Kerry, US President Joe Biden’s special envoy for climate change and a former Secretary of State, on Friday lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the “extraordinary active generosity” in giving shelter to Rohingyas and said it was “very expensive” for Bangladesh.
He also said that what has happened and what is happening to the people of Myanmar now is one of the greatest challenges of the planet, and the President Joe Biden Administration is “very grateful for the incredible spirit and helping hand” that Bangladesh has given to the Rohingyas.
Kerry was replying to a question at a joint briefing after his meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at the state guesthouse Padma.
He said the international community needs to “step up” their support as the Rohingya issue is “not a responsibility for Bangladesh alone”.
“This is really one of those things under the UN,” he said, adding that individual countries stepping up their support would be “helpful”.
The foreign minister hailed Kerry’s leadership and said “he is a doer. His track record is wherever he touched he is a success story. Because of his boldness we could achieve the Paris Agreement.”
“We hope that pro-active initiative from the US can help in safe and dignified return of Rohingyas back to their country for a decent living.”
Kerry visited Dhaka for six hour and handed over President Biden’s invitation letter to Prime Minister Hasina for attending the virtual summit on climate on April 22 and 23.
President Biden invited 40 world leaders including Sheikh Hasina to the Leaders Summit on Climate. He took action on his first day in office to return the United States to the Paris Agreement.
Days later, on January 27, he announced that he would soon convene a leaders’ summit to galvanise efforts by the major economies to tackle the climate crisis.
The Leaders Summit on Climate will underscore the urgency – and the economic benefits – of stronger climate action. It will be a key milestone on the road to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) this November in Glasgow, according to the White House.
During his visit, Kerry also met Environment Minister Md. Shahab Uddin, Special Envoy of the Vulnerable Forum Presidency Abul Kalam Azad, Parliament Member Saber Hossain Chowdhury, and international partners to discuss cooperation to partner with Bangladesh and other vulnerable countries in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
As the Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and the Vulnerable Twenty Group of Finance Ministers, Bangladesh plays a vital role in international efforts to combat climate change and adapt and build resilience to climate hazards.
The visit underscored U.S. commitment to strengthen implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change designed to limit global warming, the US embassy in Dhaka said.
“Special Presidential Envoy Kerry’s discussions focused on cooperation to promote prosperity through climate policy, investment, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.”
He also participated in a climate finance roundtable with international partners hosted by U.S. Ambassador Earl Miller at his official residence.
The United States will work closely with the international community and private sector to mobilize investment to support mitigation and adaptation to stem the climate crisis and support prosperity.
“Secretary Kerry’s visit underscores the importance the United States places on our partnership with Bangladesh, a vital leader in international efforts to address climate change,” said U.S. Ambassador Earl Miller.
Special Presidential Envoy Kerry’s trip also included stops in Abu Dhabi and New Delhi to raise global climate ambition ahead of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in November.
“You have seen and will continue to see [the United States] weaving climate change into our most important bilateral and multilateral conversations at all levels. In these conversations, we’re asking other leaders: how can we do more together?” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a February statement when the United States officially rejoined the Paris Agreement.
Key themes of the Leaders’ Summit will include:
• Galvanizing efforts by the world’s major economies to reduce emissions during this critical decade to keep a limit to warming of 1.5 degree Celsius within reach.
• Mobilizing public and private sector finance to drive the net-zero transition and to help vulnerable countries cope with climate impacts.
• The economic benefits of climate action, with a strong emphasis on job creation, and the importance of ensuring all communities and workers benefit from the transition to a new clean energy economy.
• Spurring transformational technologies that can help reduce emissions and adapt to climate change, while also creating enormous new economic opportunities and building the industries of the future.
• Showcasing sub-national and non-state actors that are committed to green recovery and an equitable vision for limiting warming to 1.5 degree Celsius, and are working closely with national governments to advance ambition and resilience.
• Discussing opportunities to strengthen capacity to protect lives and livelihoods from the impacts of climate change, address the global security challenges posed by climate change and the impact on readiness, and address the role of nature-based solutions in achieving net zero by 2050 goals.
