Shawdesh Desk:

Climate-induced displacement could lead to a global security risk in today’s interconnected world, warned by Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen.

He stressed that international community should share the burden of climate migrants’ rehabilitation. Foreign Minister Dr. Momen was speaking at a roundtable on “Environment of Peace: Securing a just and peaceful transition in a new era of risk”, organized by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on the sidelines of the Stokholm+50 international meeting on Friday (03 June).

Speaking at the roundtable, Foreign Minister said that the international community is not doing enough for millions of ‘climate migrants’ who often get subjected to various forms of security risks and exploitations. He emphasized on the significance of creating global awareness on the climate-security nexus and an enforcement mechanism to address the challenges.

Foreign Minister Dr. Momen also held bilateral meeting with the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation Matilda Ernkrans and discussed on how to enhance cooperation on climate change, education and other areas.  He urged the Swedish Minister to put pressure on Myanmar for bringing back the forcibly displaced Rohingyas with safety and dignity. He also underlined that business-as-usual approach with Myanmar will not make any progress.

Dr Abdul Momen with Matilda Ernkrans 

He also met the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Inger Andersen and discussed on how to strengthen collaboration with UNEP on environmental and climate issues.

The Executive Director applauded Bangladesh’s successful responses to climate change related challenges under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

She proposed to assist Bangladesh from Climate Technology Fund, hosted by UNEP to address climate challenges.

Speaking at a Leadership Dialogue on “Achieving a sustainable and inclusive recovery from the covid-19 pandemic”, Foreign Minister suggested to overcome the division between technology and economic interests and strengthen international cooperation for a sustainable and inclusive future for all irrespective of ethnicity, religion, colour, gender and political divide. He also recommended to increase investment in climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience, change food production and consumption pattern and stop natural habitat and biodiversity loss.

Foreign Minister Abdul Momen was on a 3-day visit to Stockholm, Sweden to participate in the Stockholm+50 international meeting, convened to commemorate the 50 years since the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment.