Member states of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, BIMSTEC have resolved to adopt an action plan to combat and mitigate environmental issues and risks of climate change in the BIMSTEC region. This comes after the countries decided to explore joint projects and strengthen collaboration in the conservation of environment and sustainable development at an environment and climate change conference, which concluded today in Paro.
Bhutan is leading the field of environment and climate change, which was designated as one of the seven areas of cooperation.
BIMSTEC is focused on seven primary areas of cooperation such as trade and investments, energy and security, and connectivity among others. Each area of cooperation is headed by a member country.
With participation from all the member countries, a collaborative working group on climate change and the environment has been established.
“The main intention is to develop a BIMSTEC plan of action on environment and climate change. We have invited experts from around the world to give input to the plan of action. So during the four-day workshop in Paro, the first is capacity development for members by the International Food Policy Research Institute and other experts. It is followed by the conference and today during the working group meeting, the plan of action on environment and climate change is finalised,” said Tenzin Lekphell, the Secretary General of BIMSTEC.
“We have this networking initiative where member states having experience and expertise on climate and environment-related issues will have a forum where the climate and environmental experts will come together and discuss the issues and also undertake research and some analytical studies. And it will be disseminated among member states. So, drawing from the plan of action, member states will come up with mitigation and adaptation projects for the region and then we will start operationalising it,” said Tshewang Dorji T, the director of the environment and climate change sector of BIMSTEC.
The International Food Policy Research Institute or the IFPRI, which is the second development partner of the BIMSTEC after the Asian Development Bank, organised, facilitated and funded the conference.
“IFPRI’s job here is bringing and forming a coalition of international development partners. Here, we brought the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s Asia-Pacific head and next, we will bring the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other partners. So that we can create a collation and deliver evidence-based solutions that BIMSTEC can use at high-level policy forum,” said Shahidur Rashid, the director of the South Asia Office of IFPRI.
IFPRI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with BIMSTEC earlier this year to support the organisation in terms of carrying out studies, conducting workshops and capacity development for member nations and the BIMSTEC Secretariat. The institute will continue supporting the secretariat in implementing the plan of action once it is adopted.
