Britain to give Bangladesh £75m to help adapt to climate change

Louise Gray
Last Updated: 12:01am BST 10/09/2008

Britain is to give Bangladesh £75m as part of a flagship fund to help millions of people adapt to climate change.

The money will go towards projects that help people survive the worst affects of climate change, such as building new embankments or helping farmers move from rice to crab farming.

People affected by flooding queue to receive food aid in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change, with 70 million people at risk of flooding by 2050.
In a conference at the Royal Geographical Society, Douglas Alexander, the International Development Secretary, said development is not just about social and economic issues but tacking huge changes in the environment.
It signals a new direction for international development for Britain towards helping poorer countries deal with global warming.
"Climate change is today's crisis, not tomorrow's risk, and is already affecting millions of people in Bangladesh," Mr Alexander said.

"But Bangladesh is resilient and is setting an example to other vulnerable countries with its innovative approach to adapting to the changing climate."
Mr Alexander also signed a joint declaration with Bangladesh calling for the international community to sign up to a new deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol in Copenhagen in 2009.
He said: "UK and Bangladesh are announcing a new partnership calling for a comprehensive deal in Copenhagen, leading to the stabilisation of greenhouse gases at a level that avoids dangerous climate change - and benefits some of the world's poorest people."
The £75m, which is in addition to development aid, includes £60m for helping people adapt to climate change and £12m for the disaster management programme.
It also includes £3m for research which will help bolster Bangladesh's arguments in international negotiations.
Bangladesh has set up a fund to help fight tackle climate change that will include the money from Britain as well as other donors and £25m per year from the country's own government.
Other global funds to help poor countries deal with climate change are expected to be set up in the run up to the new Kyoto agreement.
Dr Mirza Islam, Bangladesh's finance adviser, said countries like Bangladesh need help from the international community to adapt to climate change.
"Least Developed Countries (LDCs), including Bangladesh, need immediate international support to build their resilience to global warming and climate change," he said.
"The resources currently available for adaptation are grossly inadequate to meet the needs of the LDCs who bear the brunt of increased climate variability and unpredictability resulting from climate change.
"The effects of climate change will severely constrain our ability to attain the high rates of economic growth needed to sustain development gains. We want a new sense of urgency to support Bangladesh in our search for a better tomorrow.
"This is why today, we are presenting our Climate Change Action Plan and calling upon the international community to assist Bangladesh by providing predictable, long-term financing for this plan and also by pushing for a meaningful agreement at Copenhagen."