DHAKA: Bangladesh is all set to start a major climate change mitigation project. But government authorities do not know for sure when the pledged money will be coming into the account of ‘Climate Change Resilience Fund’.

“We are almost ready to start the project to tackle the adverse impacts of climate change,” Dr. Hasan Mahmud, State Minister for Environment and Forest, told banglanews24.com.bd last week before leaving for Brussels to attend a summit.

In reply to a query, the minister said, “We only know that the money will come but still don’t know the time of the disbursement”.

The ‘Climate Change Resilience Fund’ was formed last month in association with five development partners. The initial amount of the fund is US$ 110 million with contributions of $1.6 million from Denmark, $10.4 million from the European Union, $11.5 million from Sweden and $86.7 million from the UK as grants.

Dr. Hasan Mahmud said the fund would be managed and utilized by Bangladesh government while the World Bank would provide technical supports and ensure that due diligence requirements are met.

The state minister also said that his ministry has prepared the climate-change action plan and is waiting for the money to implement certain projects.

He said, “The Fund will support implementation of Bangladesh’s Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan for 2009-2018, by supporting vulnerable communities in adapting to greater climate uncertainties”.

As per rules governing foreign grants, the proposed amounts will come through Economic Relations Division. “It is very much important for us to start our programme,” said Dr. Hasan.

Munjurul Hannan Khan, a Deputy Secretary and Project Director of the Climate Change Unit of the Ministry of Environment, told banglanews24.com.com Sunday that 44 projects have been undertaken under six categories to implement the Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2009 which was approved by the Cabinet this year.

He said, “Some of these projects will also be funded by the government of Bangladesh and some others by Climate Change Resilience Fund.”

Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmed, Deputy Chief Conservator of Forest (Planning), told banglanews24.com.bd, “We have prepared two projects to combat climate-change impacts.”

Explaining the importance of the projects, Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmed said, “Coastal Forestation project is our main lifeline to protect coastal areas. Implementing this project, we are trying to save the mangrove forest Sundarbans also.”

Regarding this, Khan also said, “Coastal forestation will help us protect ourselves from natural calamity like cyclone and heavy tidal surge.”

The State Minister for Environment and Forest said they are trying to get the first installment of the proposed funds within next three to four months.

BDST: 1755 HRS. JULY 4, 2010