To tackle climate change risks, the government has approved 29 new projects under the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund. The approval was given at the 62nd meeting of the Trustee Board, held on Thursday (March 27) at the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. The meeting was chaired by the ministry’s adviser, Syeda Rizwana Hasan.

Also present were Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Agriculture; Sharmeen S Murshid, adviser to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Ministry of Social Welfare; Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid; Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed; Finance Secretary Dr. Md. Khairuzzaman Mozumder, along with other officials.

These newly approved projects focus on addressing climate risks, environmental conservation, and promoting sustainable agriculture and urban development. Research will be conducted on carbon emissions and climate-resilient agriculture in Haor areas. Environmentally friendly technologies will be developed to boost dairy production. Additionally, the impact of climate change on plant growth will be analyzed in four hotspot areas.

Other initiatives include improving onion storage and quality seed production for farmers. Climate-smart technology will be used to enhance agricultural production in char, haor, and coastal regions.

Water reservoirs will be restored in major cities like Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet. Afforestation will take place along five canals in Narayanganj, and the Lobondah Canal in Gazipur will be preserved. To combat climate challenges, solar-powered tube wells will be installed in remote hill areas of Rangamati, while safe drinking water will be provided to affected communities in Bandarban.

Several other projects include supplying eco-friendly jute bags, planting palm and mangrove trees, conserving biodiversity, and researching antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Various government agencies and research institutions will be involved in implementing these projects. Awareness campaigns will also be conducted nationwide to educate people about climate change.

Institutions involved in implementing these projects include the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board (Rangamati), the Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology at University of Chittagong, the Department of Public Health Engineering, the Rural Development Academy (Bogura), Bangladesh Agricultural University (Mymensingh), the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services, the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute, the Department of Environment, the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust, the Dhaka District Administration, the Fisheries Development Corporation, the Department of Livestock, the Jute Department, the Bangladesh Water Development Board, the Department of Agricultural Extension, and the Forest Department.

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan emphasized the need for a coordinated effort to address the negative effects of climate change. She expressed hope that these projects would not only support sustainable development but also make significant progress in environmental and biodiversity conservation.