Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-Bangladesh informed international community that it has put greater importance on the issues of integrating Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

The disclosure was made at the “Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change” held at the European Commission Headquarters in Brussels of Belgium on Wednesday.

“Bangladesh puts greater emphasis on integrating Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in all relevant sectors, said Md Shahriar Alam, the state minister for the foreign affairs ministry, who participated in the meeting, said a press release of the ministry.

“Bangladesh is considered a good performer in managing disaster and we have gathered many good lessons and practices over the years that can be and have been replicated in the context of CCA (Climate Change Adaptation)”, the minister said.

As the opening speaker at the session “Adaptation to Climate Change”, the Bangladesh minister said that the new agreement must recognise the long term dynamic nature of adaptation.

He added that the new agreement must paved the way for adaptation to be based on real life observations, monitoring and analyses of vulnerabilities with adequate and predictable financial support and technology provision from the more developed countries.

Co-chaired by the European commissioner for climate action Ms Connie Hedegaard, and Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment Ms Tine Sundtoft, the meeting was attended by the ministers and representatives from about 40 countries and international organisations including UN bodies.

The meeting was divided into four sessions – Mitigation in the 2015 Agreement, Adaptation, Means of implementation, and Pre-2020 mitigation ambition.

On the issue of mitigation of the effect of climate change, the minister said that Bangladesh was committed to a low carbon development path provided the process does not put additional burden on its economy and financial capacity.

He informed that opportunities for expansion of renewable energy, energy efficiency in Bangladesh were ample and could be significant for the economy of the country in replacing expensive oil based power generators.

He mentioned that renewable energy was poverty focused and it could generate a range of green jobs.

BBN/ANS/AD/30Apr14-10:40pm (BST)