Bangladesh has emphatically called for urgent and substantial international measures to combat climate change, stressing the necessity of enhancing support for small island nations in their resilience-building initiatives.

Speaking at the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud reaffirmed Bangladesh's steadfast support for SIDS, underlining Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's personal dedication to the cause.

The conference, which gathered global leaders, concentrated on addressing the unique challenges faced by SIDS and promoting sustainable development.

It will adopt "The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) – a Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity," according to a communication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

The foreign minister is heading the Bangladesh delegation at the conference, which includes Muhammad Abdul Muhith, Bangladesh's permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.

He emphasized Bangladesh's traditional role as a spokesperson for the least developed countries (LDCs) and its persistent efforts to tackle critical issues faced by SIDS.

Having twice served as president of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), Bangladesh has particularly focused on the challenges posed by climate change, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and extreme weather events.

Hasan urged advanced and high-emitting economies to make ambitious and accountable commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

He stressed the significance of the upcoming COP29 in Baku in fulfilling climate financing commitments beyond 2025, with an emphasis on enhancing the adaptive capacity of climate-vulnerable nations.

The foreign minister highlighted Bangladesh's leadership in seeking an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on states' responsibilities in addressing climate change. He called for reforms in international financial institutions to better serve SIDS and emphasized that the newly established Loss and Damage Fund, along with other funding mechanisms, must be easily accessible to SIDS and other countries with capacity constraints.

Moreover, he highlighted Bangladesh's initiatives, such as offering scholarships for cadets from African LDCs and Caribbean and Pacific SIDS at the Bangladesh Marine Academy. These efforts illustrate Bangladesh's commitment to fostering cooperation and capacity-building in the maritime sector.