Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina wins UN Award for Leadership on Climate Change

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been selected for the United Nations Champions of the Earth award.
UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has chosen her for this prestigious award in recognition of her country’s initiatives to address climate change.
UNEP has noted Bangladesh as one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In recent years natural disasters like cyclones, floods and droughts have intensified in the country due to climate change.
The awards will be presented to her at a special ceremony to be held on September 27, 2015 at closing ceremony of United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015.

Climate Change Mitigation Strategies of Bangladesh

• Bangladesh is first developing country to have a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan which was prepared in 2009.
• It is also the first country to set up its own Climate Change Trust Fund which is supported by nearly 300 million US dollars from 2009-2012.
• In 2011, Bangladesh’s Constitution was amended in order to include a constitutional directive to the State to protect the environment and natural resources for current and future generations.
• Being serving Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina has demonstrated leadership and vision in both making climate change an issue of national priority and advocating for an ambitious global response.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2015