During the virtual opening of the Global Centre on Adaptation's regional office in Dhaka, the prime minister highlighted the susceptibility of the South Asian region to climate-related natural disasters such as cyclones, floods, tidal surges, droughts, glacial lake outburst floods, landslides, and avalanches. She emphasized the serious repercussions that even a 1.5 degree Celsius increase in temperature would have on Bangladesh and the surrounding area. The prime minister also drew attention to the vulnerability of certain groups like children, women, the elderly, and those with special needs in the face of disasters, while reaffirming Bangladesh's dedication to upholding the Paris Agreement and implementing measures to reduce carbon emissions and environmental degradation. She mentioned the government's efforts in carrying out various programs to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts as outlined in the Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan established in 2009. "We established the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund in 2009 and have allocated 430 million US dollars from our own resources for the action plan," she stated. The government has been dedicating about 1% of our GDP, equivalent to $2 billion per year since 2010, for adaptation purposes. The prime minister also highlighted the Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100 as a long-term initiative to address climate change and natural disasters. However, Hasina stressed the importance of enhancing resilience in South Asia to minimize the impacts of climate-related disasters. "Over the past decade, approximately 700 million people, half of the region’s population, have been affected by climate-related disasters." Before people can recover from one disaster caused by natural hazards, another one strikes, undoing any progress that has been made. In order to break this cycle, South Asia must increase its resilience. Hasina expressed her support for the GCA's regional office in Bangladesh, stating that it will help improve adaptation and climate resilience efforts in South Asia. She hopes that the office will facilitate the sharing of best practices from Bangladesh and other countries, as well as promote the exchange of ideas within the region. The office is expected to become a Center of Excellence and a key player in implementing adaptation measures in the region. According to Hasina, Bangladesh is looking to the GCA Dhaka office for support during its upcoming chairmanship of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and Vulnerable-20, two important international bodies related to climate issues. She also encouraged the GCA to consider ways to provide ongoing support to the Delta Coalition. While praising Bangladesh's ability to combat natural disasters, the prime minister acknowledged the need for changes to mitigate the impacts of climate change. She expressed confidence that countries in the region can work together to protect and improve the future for everyone. Considering the worldwide impact of climate change, I urge all countries to strengthen their Nationally Determined Contributions by December 31 of this year to address the problem and implement the 2015 Paris Agreement. In response to the challenges posed by the pandemic, Hasina appealed to other nations to come together in solidarity to combat the current crisis and any future crises that may arise.