Bangladesh has called for more investment from green businesses ahead of a summit in London where politicians are seeking to change perceptions of the country.
The country produces just 0.23 per cent of global carbon emissions but is one of the worst affected by climate change, with advancing sea levels and extreme weather threatening many coastal areas and forcing mass migration inland.
Chairman of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) professor Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam told the Standard that the Government is issuing green bonds and investing in low carbon energy, such as solar power, in a bid to attract business from abroad.
“We are helping those people who are in areas usually prone to natural disaster due to cyclones and the water level going up,” he said.
“What we are trying to do is [plant more] trees, build cyclone shelters and [train] people in business related to disaster management so there is less trouble after a natural disaster happens.
“We are not emitting carbon but we are hit by these issues.”
Mr Rubayat-Ul-Islam will be hosting summits in London and Manchester next week with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina following her speech at COP26.
The delegation will be seeking huge long-term financing of its industries
“We don’t need aid, we just need international partners willing to do business,” said Mr Rubayat-Ul-Islam
“We want to change the perception of Bangladesh. For that we need more investment.
“We want to give the message to the business people here that if you come to Bangaldesh we have advantages, like the demographic advantage. Half of our population is below 30 years of age, so they are a huge energy. So if you use them for your production that will be highly productive.”
