The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, today met his Bangladeshi counterpart, Minister for Environment and Forests, Dr Hasan Mahmud, and discussed climate change action underway in both countries.

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries when it comes to the impacts of climate change. 

Two-thirds of the country is less than five metres above sea level and in an average year a quarter of the country is inundated.   

“Even if global efforts to reduce global carbon pollution are successful, the science shows that some climate change impacts will be unavoidable and Bangladesh will be one of the nations hardest hit,” Mr Combet said.

According to the World Bank, many environmental and developmental problems in Bangladesh will be exacerbated by climate change – for example predicted rainfall increases could increase flood-prone areas and crop yields are predicted to fall by up to 30 per cent, creating a very high risk of hunger in one of the world’s most populous countries.

Discussions between Mr Combet and Dr Mahmud covered domestic action to reduce carbon pollution in both countries, bilateral cooperation and the outlook for the international climate change negotiations.

Mr Combet welcomed the Bangladeshi Government’s recently announced target of cutting its expected 2030 carbon pollution levels by one third, with funding and clean technology support from the international community.

“It is instructive that Bangladesh, one of the world’s poorest countries, responsible for only 0.33 per cent of global emissions, is committed to playing its part in global efforts to reduce carbon pollution,” Mr Combet said.

The average Bangladeshi is responsible for less than one tonne of carbon pollution each year, compared to 27 tonnes for each Australian. 

Ministers also recognised the benefit of working together to adapt to climate change, including challenges posed by sea level rise and extreme weather events, and agreed to bolster collaboration in adaptation planning in coastal regions.

Both Ministers also agreed that a priority for this year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Durban in December was to progress the practical outcomes from 2010 Conference in Cancun.