Chief adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed emphasized the importance of regional and global cooperation during an international symposium on climate change and food security in Dhaka. The symposium concluded with the signing of the Dhaka Symposium Declaration. Ahmed highlighted the need for neighboring countries to work together to mitigate the impact of natural disasters and adapt to changes caused by climate change. He also stressed the importance of taking comprehensive and integrated steps to address the adverse effects of global warming on food security. Iceland's President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, who was a guest speaker at the event, also emphasized the global nature of the issue and called for international dialogue on the security implications of climate change. The symposium was jointly organized by Dhaka University, Ohio State University, the World Meteorological Organization, UNESCAP, and the Food and Agriculture Organization, and focused on climate change and food security in South Asia. In his concluding remarks at the talks, the chief adviser highlighted Bangladesh's susceptibility to climate change due to its geographical location as a low-lying mega-delta with three major river systems and frequent heavy rainfall, leading to annual floods. He called on the international community, especially major greenhouse gas emitters, to take action to address the impacts of climate change so that highly affected countries like Bangladesh can withstand the consequences and maintain food security. The chief adviser emphasized the need to lift 50 million people out of poverty in Bangladesh by providing essential resources such as food, shelter, clean water, and healthcare. Additionally, he mentioned the challenges posed by consecutive floods and Cyclone Sidr from last year, which jeopardized the country's agricultural sector and threatened food and nutrition availability for the population. The chief adviser highlighted the challenging situation faced by Bangladesh, as global warming has already impacted food production, leading to food deficits in the past two decades. He also mentioned that the melting of Himalayan glaciers, along with river sediments and drainage issues, are further exacerbating the problem. Iceland's visiting president emphasized the need for all countries to engage in a global dialogue on the security implications of climate change. He suggested taking extensive initiatives beyond South Asia to involve countries dependent on the Himalayan region for water, as experts predict the glaciers in that area could disappear within the next 40-70 years. Grimsson also noted that Iceland is experiencing the effects of climate change, with the largest glaciers in Europe located there. He mentioned that his country has successfully shifted its economy from relying on fossil fuels to becoming a leader in clean energy production. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between scientific communities, governments, businesses, and civic associations to address climate change effectively. He called for a visionary collaboration among brilliant minds and urged all concerned citizens to participate. The key recommendations from the Dhaka Symposium Declaration include establishing a Climate Change and Food Security Network in South Asia, enhancing regional and policy instruments, and finding innovative financial measures for adaptation options. The closing ceremony took place at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel on Saturday, with Dhaka University vice chancellor SMA Faiz serving as the chairperson. Also in attendance were FAO's Asia and the Pacific regional representative Changchui He, FAO country representative Ad Spijkers, commerce adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman, and the chief adviser's special assistant in charge of environment and forests Raja Devashish Roy, all of whom delivered speeches during the event.