Bangladesh has significant opportunities to participate actively in international carbon trading, said Mitchel Lee, High Commissioner of Singapore to Bangladesh. He also called for stronger cooperation between the two countries in carbon trading, water management, renewable energy and modern technologies to build an environmentally sustainable future and address the growing climate crisis.

The High Commissioner made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation of the Climate Action and Justice Foundation (CAJF) at the Singapore High Commission in Dhaka.

The meeting discussed a wide range of issues, including climate action and justice, carbon trading, renewable and clean energy, water management, climate technology, sustainable urbanisation, food security, and the exchange of knowledge and experiences between Bangladesh and Singapore.

The CAJF delegation was led by its Founder and Chairman Arifuzzaman Mamun. Other members of the delegation included Secretary General Raoman Smita, senior journalist Moin Uddin Khan, Imtiaz Ahmed, Deputy Editor of Dainik Amar Barta S. M. Rana, and Mehedi Hasan Khan.

During the meeting, Mitchel Lee said carbon trading could create new economic and environmental opportunities for Bangladesh in addressing climate change. He described it as an important area where Bangladesh can utilise its potential to protect the environment while also gaining economic benefits.

He also stressed the need for Bangladesh to take the necessary preparations to capitalise on these opportunities in line with international carbon market mechanisms and standards.

The Singapore High Commissioner highlighted Singapore’s experience in vertical farming and the use of advanced technologies to ensure sustainable food production despite limited land availability. He said Singapore’s experience in water management, energy efficiency, food production and sustainable urban development could provide valuable lessons for Bangladesh.

Lee noted that despite its limited land and natural resources, Singapore has been able to achieve sustainable urban development through modern technology and innovation. In particular, Singapore’s technological achievements in water management, energy efficiency, waste treatment and vertical, or multi-storey, farming could offer highly useful lessons for Bangladesh.

CAJF Chairman Arifuzzaman Mamun said climate change is no longer merely an environmental crisis; it is directly linked to the economy, food security, water, health, urbanisation and people’s livelihoods.

“Therefore, Bangladesh and Singapore need to work together by combining their experiences, technologies and innovations to address the challenges posed by climate change,” he said.

He said Bangladesh is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, while Singapore has established a unique example of sustainable development through technology and innovation despite its limited land, water and natural resources.

“The combination of the experiences of the two countries can open up new avenues of opportunity for addressing climate change,” Mamun added.

The meeting also discussed the potential for carbon projects in Bangladesh, reducing carbon emissions and attracting environmentally friendly investment. The participants also exchanged views on expanding trade and investment relations between Bangladesh and Singapore.

Particular emphasis was placed on the potential for exporting vegetables, seafood and other food products from Bangladesh to Singapore, as well as the scope for Bangladesh to learn from Singapore’s advanced technologies in food production, processing, preservation and storage.

The Singapore High Commissioner expressed interest in supporting and coordinating forward-looking, practical and positive initiatives in these areas.

The meeting stressed the importance of further strengthening partnerships between the private sector and civil society of Bangladesh and Singapore in key areas such as climate action, environmental protection, clean energy, food security, urban management and carbon trading.