EU to provide Bangladesh €8.5 mln to fight climate challenges
0 
Bangladesh has been pledged by European Union (EU) a grant of 8.5 million euros to implement the country's strategic action plan for tackling climate change, local media reported Tuesday.
A joint declaration by Bangladesh, Maldives, Cambodia and the EU was signed in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on Monday after the two-day Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) conference culminated.
The conference was attended by representatives from some of the least developed nations, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar and Nepal, as well as the EU, leading English newspaper The Independent reported on Tuesday.
According to the joint declaration, the EU will provide 14.5 million euros to the three countries. Of the grant, Bangladesh will get 8.5 million euros.
The joint declaration aims to help the least developed countries and small island states in Asia adapt to the climatic changes. The agreement foresees that the EU would provide financial support for national climate change strategies, with a focus on prevention, mitigation and preparedness.
At a press conference, the European Commissioner for Climate Change Connie Hedegaard said although the joint declaration was not signed by all the participating nations, "it is a start. We are open to other member states signing it."
At the press conference, Maldives Minister of Environment Aslam Mohammad said, "We are not here just seeking money. We are looking for a future where we can survive as our forefathers did. We do want the developing countries to assist us, but we won't wait, we will fight it ourselves." (1 euro equals about 1.22 U.S. dollars)
