Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan spoke at a ceremony held by the Embassy of Switzerland in the capital today. Photo : PID

DHAKA, Sept 2, 2025 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today said that knowledge-based initiatives along with global unity and solidarity are crucial in addressing the climate crisis. 

"With the limited time and resources we have in hand, collective action is indispensable. This crisis is not only about survival, it is about the safety of our future generations and the very existence of many nations," she said.

Rizwana, also the adviser to the Ministry of Water Resources, was speaking as the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the "Biophilia: Reconnecting people, climate and Culture" organized by the Embassy of Switzerland the capital, said a ministry press release.

Highlighting Bangladesh's vulnerability, she said that as a deltaic and lower riparian country, Bangladesh is among the most climate-vulnerable nations. 

She added: "Our people are demonstrating resilience and courage in the face of repeated disasters, but our capacity is being pushed to the limit due to insufficient mitigation efforts and inadequate international support. Required financing and technological assistance for adaptation are still far from sufficient."

The adviser called upon development partners to reconsider their support policies and extend stronger cooperation to vulnerable countries like Bangladesh. 

Stressing the importance of culture and heritage in resilience-building, she said, "No matter how great the crisis, we will continue to move towards solutions by drawing strength from our culture and traditions, together with our development partners."

Corinne Henchoz Pignani, Charge, d'Affaires of the Embassy of Switzerland, Valantine Achancho, Country Director and Representative, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Laboni Akter from Shoronkhola, Bagerhat, among others, also spoke at the event.
 
Later, the adviser visited stalls at the exhibition in Aloki convention showcasing various initiatives to tackle climate risks, and interacted with students and climate-vulnerable communities.