Bangladesh’s Pragmatic Foreign Policy: Viewing the Indo-Pacific Outlook in a Broader Context
On April 24, 2023, Bangladesh formally unveiled its ‘Indo-Pacific Outlook’, a foreign policy document of great strategic significance. Taking into account the fact that Bangladesh has so far lacked any full-fledged foreign policy strategy outlined in precise terms and that the 8th most populous state in the world currently finds itself on the politico-diplomatic frontlines of the New Cold War, the declaration of the Indo-Pacific Outlook constitutes the first major step in articulating and presenting Bangladesh’s foreign and security policy in a more structured and formalized manner. Bangladesh, a relatively ‘young’ state which obtained independence only half a century ago, has usually pursued a carefully-crafted, well-balanced and calculative path in its foreign policy. At that time, it was vulnerable economically and militarily, so it had no other viable options. Its governments lacked the luxury of engaging in confrontational bloc politics during the Cold War. Accordingly, ‘friendship towards all, malice towards none’ became the strategic mantra of Bangladeshi foreign policy, and Dhaka sought to navigate the muddy (and bloody) waters of the Cold War by maintaining cordial (or at least non-conflictual) relations with all the great powers and working relations with its neighbours while generally avoiding confrontation on the international arena.
India targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, says Modi
India’s economy will become carbon neutral by the year 2070, the country’s prime minster has announced at the COP26 climate crisis summit in Glasgow. The target date is two decades beyond what scientists say is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts. India is the last of the world’s major carbon polluters to announce a net-zero target, with China saying it would reach that goal in 2060, and the United States and the European Union aiming for 2050.
COP26: What climate summit means for one woman in Bangladesh
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Why China's climate policy matters to us all
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Deliver on promises, developing world tells rich at climate talks
A crucial U.N. conference heard calls on its first day for the world's major economies to keep their promises of financial help to address the climate crisis, while big polluters India and Brazil made new commitments to cut emissions. World leaders, environmental experts and activists all pleaded for decisive action to halt the global warming which threatens the future of the planet at the start of the two-week COP26 summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Monday. The task facing negotiators was made even more daunting by the failure of the Group of 20 major industrial nations to agree ambitious new commitments at the weekend.