Dhaka, Aug 26 (UNB)-British International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander and Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Miliband are likely to arrive here Monday with climate-change issues on top of their agenda.

 

The two British Ministers will mainly discuss with government leaders and experts the adverse impacts of climate change on Bangladesh, the worst-hit victim, and the country’s preparation to combat the adversities.

 

The British Ministers’ visit to Bangladesh is seen very important ahead of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December which is expected to sign an agreement on reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions worldwide and help the least developing countries to enhance their adaptation capabilities.

 

In 2008, Bangladesh and the United Kingdom at London Climate Conference made a joint partnership calling for an ambitious international deal on cutting greenhouse-gas emissions.

 

At the conference, the UK made a fresh pledge of 75 million pounds sterling to Dhaka for combating catastrophic impacts of climate change on livelihood and food security.  The 75 million pounds contribution includes 60 million pounds for helping people adapt to climate change, 12 million pounds for disaster management and 3 million pounds for research.

 

In his new poverty plan Douglas Alexander, who came here after the cyclone Sidr, set out his desire to see a fair and equitable deal from the Copenhagen climate conference in December. “Building our common future the government’s commitment to contribute to a $ 100bn fund to help developing countries tackle climate change which provides funding over and above existing aid commitments,” he said.

 

Ed Miliband in his recent remarks said that “to fight global poverty successfully we must also fight for an ambitious global climate deal at Copenhagen this December”.