Shawdesh Desk:

The US will support Bangladesh in improving and widening its coastal embankments as part of a climate change adaptation effort.

Bangladesh will also get assistance from the US in improving renewable energy and afforestation.

The assurance came as Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen held a meeting with John Kerry, US President Joe Biden’s special envoy for climate change, on the sideline of the 7th “Our Ocean Conference” during April 13-14.

Momen attended the conference in Palau, an island country in the western Pacific Ocean, at the invitation of Kerry, according to the foreign ministry.

The US envoy lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s global leadership on the climate front and urged Bangladesh to join the Global Methane Pledge to get assistance in reducing emissions from solid waste.

Countries joining the Global Methane Pledge commit to a collective goal of reducing global methane emissions by at least 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030.

Momen described the potential of Bangladesh in harnessing the promises of the blue economy and called for US support to create employment in this sector.

Also, on the sidelines of the 7th “Our Ocean Conference,” co-hosted by the US and Palau, Momen held talks with his Palau counterpart Gustav Aitaro.

They discussed possible cooperation on tourism and healthcare and the export of Bangladeshi readymade garments to Palau.

Maritime Affairs Unit Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (retd) Md Khurshed Alam and Bangladesh Ambassador to the Philippines FM Borhan Uddin were also present.