Special Presidential Envoy Kerry met with Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, other senior Government of Bangladesh leaders, and international partners ahead of President Biden’s Leaders’ Summit on Climate on April 22-23. On Friday Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Environment Minister Md. Shahab Uddin, Special Envoy of the Vulnerable Forum Presidency Abul Kalam Azad, Parliament Member Saber Hossain Chowdhury, and international partners to discuss cooperation to partner with Bangladesh and other vulnerable countries in their efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The trip laid the groundwork for President Joseph Biden’s Leaders’ Summit on Climate on April 22-23, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be recognized for Bangladesh’s leadership of countries especially vulnerable to climate impacts. As the Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and the Vulnerable Twenty Group of Finance Ministers, Bangladesh plays a vital role in international efforts to combat climate change and adapt and build resilience to climate hazards.
The visit underscored the U.S. commitment to strengthen the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change designed to limit global warming. Special Presidential Envoy Kerry’s discussions focused on cooperation to promote prosperity through climate policy, investment, innovation, and sustainable economic growth.
Special Presidential Envoy Kerry also participated in a climate finance roundtable with international partners hosted by U.S. Ambassador Earl Miller at his official residence. The United States will work closely with the international community and private sector to mobilize investment to support mitigation and adaptation to stem the climate crisis and support prosperity.
“Secretary Kerry’s visit underscores the importance the United States places on our partnership with Bangladesh, a vital leader in international efforts to address climate change,” U.S. Ambassador Earl Miller said.
Special Presidential Envoy Kerry’s trip also included stops in Abu Dhabi and New Delhi to raise global climate ambition ahead of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in November.
“You have seen and will continue to see [the United States] weaving climate change into our most important bilateral and multilateral conversations at all levels. In these conversations, we’re asking other leaders: how can we do more together?” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a February statement when the United States officially rejoined the Paris Agreement. – US Embassy press release
