Water is a crucial factor in Bangladesh, where it can mean the difference between life and death. The country is rich in rivers, coastlines, and strong-willed inhabitants. However, the year 2020 has posed unique challenges for us. Cyclone Amphan caused widespread destruction in the south-western regions in May, followed by monsoon rains that flooded one-third of the nation, displacing many and ruining crops. Dealing with the aftermath of water invading homes, destroying belongings, and spreading pollution and disease is extremely difficult. It is especially challenging this year with the impact of Covid-19, which has made it harder to obtain clean water necessary for sanitation and preventing the spread of the virus. In Dhaka, where I am writing from, the water levels in the Brahmaputra and Padma basins are decreasing. Despite the ongoing threat of the coronavirus, my community is slowly returning to normalcy. We are evaluating our flood protection measures and offering assistance to those impacted. As always, we are developing strategies to improve our readiness for future challenges, as in Bangladesh, there is always another crisis on the horizon. The climate crisis is always present. I want to caution countries that believe they are unaffected by the climate crisis, as well as bankers and financiers who think they can avoid it: this is not possible. The Covid-19 pandemic has proven that no nation or company can thrive in isolation. We must work together to address worldwide challenges. The pandemic has also highlighted that it is simpler to prevent problems than to fix them. This means that in 2020, it is crucial for us to prioritize listening to scientists. We are currently experiencing a global crisis involving climate change, health, and biodiversity. The loss of biodiversity is being sped up by climate change, making the situation worse. Bangladesh is not the only country facing the consequences of nature's anger, as fires have also devastated regions such as the Amazon, Australia, California, and Siberia this year. Cyclones and hurricanes have caused destruction in the US, Caribbean, and parts of Asia. The UK, where the COP26 climate summit will take place next year, has also been affected by floods. The root cause of climate change is the unsustainable nature of human activities. In recent years, we have seen an increase in extreme weather events such as floods, rainfalls, cyclones, heatwaves, landslides, and droughts, which pose a threat to food security. It is important to acknowledge the seriousness of these issues. An increase of one meter in sea level will submerge many small islands and coastal nations, while melting glaciers will cause devastating floods in mountainous countries. This will result in millions of people becoming climate refugees, with the world lacking the resources to accommodate such a large population. The G20 countries are accountable for 80% of emissions, whereas the bottom 100 countries only contribute 3.5%. The emitters bear a significant burden and must contribute more to the efforts required to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5C. Bangladesh, as the current president of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, is reaching out to the international community and the G20 for additional financial assistance and technology access to accelerate adaptation for the most vulnerable countries. Among these nations, Bangladesh stands out for its readiness to tackle extreme weather events by constructing sea walls, planting mangrove forests, and integrating resilience into all government activities. However, we cannot face these challenges alone. The Pledge for Nature was signed by sixty-four countries and the EU this week in response to the planetary emergency. These countries collectively represent around 1.4 billion people and a quarter of the global gross domestic product. Building a common political will at both domestic and global levels is now necessary. As hosts of the upcoming COP, G7, and G20 meetings, the UK and Italy must take the lead in driving this agenda forward, including providing comprehensive support for the nations most severely affected. Business leaders, CEOs, CFOs, and investors of all levels have a crucial role to play in this effort. You might think that the most important thing for you is your quarterly results, but what truly matters is our collective well-being. If the environment is harmed to the point where it cannot sustain us, everyone will be impacted. Events in one part of the world can have repercussions globally. Rising sea levels will affect us all. The only solution is a fundamental change in government and business practices, transitioning from high carbon emissions and exploitation of the Earth to a more sustainable and caring approach. A recent study conducted by Vivid Economics on the response to Covid-19 indicates that its effect on climate change has been varied. I commend the EU for focusing on a sustainable recovery. We intend to follow suit in Bangladesh, and I strongly urge other government and business leaders to do the same. While job creation is important, we must also prioritize creating opportunities for the future and laying strong foundations for the years ahead. Climate change, pandemics, and the loss of biodiversity are shared challenges. They ought to bring us together to strive for a shared goal: creating a more environmentally friendly and secure world. In the words of Bangla: "Bhabia korio kaj, koria bhabio na" (think before you act, not after you have acted), we must avoid irreversible actions.