With a dense population, rising sea levels, and extreme weather, Bangladesh needs global support for climate adaptation and sustainable development, said the Embassy of France in Dhaka on Wednesday.
France is eager, notably through its development agency, AFD, to contribute to adaptation to climate change, said the Embassy which is now equipped with an inflatable boat to ensure safety and support during floods.
“Just got our new inflated boat!,” the Embassy announced in a social media post from its verified Facebook page, noting that Bangladesh faces annual flooding, especially during the monsoon season, due to its low-lying topography and vulnerability to tropical cyclones and heavy rains.
France reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Bangladesh to advance climate resilience and sustainable development goals.
“Together, France and Bangladesh are building resilience for the future!” said the Embassy in a Facebook post that contains photos of the boat and Ambassador of France to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy.
Both Bangladesh and France are Indo-Pacific countries.
Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface and play a vital role in regulating environmental balances, providing resources and biodiversity, enabling trade and connecting countries and communities.
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The Embassy, however, said oceans are under threat from climate change, pollution and the overexploitation of marine resources.
France and Costa Rica are jointly organising the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, from June 9 to 13 this year.
Ten years after COP21 and the Paris Agreement, UNOC3 aims to bring together all United Nations Member States, specialised agencies, civil society, the private sector and international donors.
The conference will build on the previous UN Ocean Conferences, hosted by Sweden and Fiji in 2017 in New York and by Portugal and Kenya in 2022 in Lisbon.
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The overarching theme of the conference is “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”.
The conference aims to support further and urgent action to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development and identify further ways and means to support the implementation of SDG 14.
It will build on existing instruments to form successful partnerships towards the swift conclusion and effective implementation of ongoing processes that contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean.
The Conference will involve all relevant stakeholders, bringing together Governments, the United Nations system, intergovernmental organisations, international financial institutions, other interested international bodies, non-governmental organizations, civil society organisations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organisations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities and other actors to assess challenges and opportunities relating to, as well as actions taken towards, the implementation of Goal 14.