Expedition to Antarctica
Dhaka's vulnerability to climate change made known
Says Hasan Mahmud
While taking part in a recent climate change expedition to Antarctica, Bangladesh's representative, Environment and Forests Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud, pointed out Bangladesh's vulnerability to climate change.
Sharing his experience on the expedition at a press conference in the ministry yesterday, Hasan also said many western policymakers and scientists witnessed the alarming rate at which Arctic ice is melting.
Al Gore, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and former US vice president, organised and lead the 116-member expedition, “A Voyage to the Bottom of the Earth”, from January 29 to February 6.
The aim was to see firsthand, explore and highlight the pace and alarming impacts of greenhouse pollution unfolding even in the world's most remote frozen continent and let the world know how fast the climate bell is ticking.
Several documentaries are being made based on the expedition, said the minister, adding, “We are a part of it.”
Mentioning that huge ice sheets are melting in the Atlantic Peninsula, he said, “If all the ice of the south pole melts, the sea level will rise by 65 meters. Can you imagine what will happen to Bangladesh then?”
Studies found that 15 to 19 percent of Bangladesh will go under water if the sea level rises by one metre, he added.
“While we were in Antarctica, our prime minister talked over phone with Al Gore and the others. I highlighted how Bangladesh, whose contribution to green house gas emission is negligible, is a victim of climate change,” he said.
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