Bangladesh seeks grants for climate finance

The issue came up at a national dialogue titled “From Paris to Antalya: A Reflection on Financing for Climate and Nature” at the Sheraton Annex in Dhaka on Thursday (October 15).

Change Initiative organised the event, with support from WaterAid Bangladesh and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

The dialogue also marked the launch of the Nature and Governance Policy Platform (NGPP), an independent advisory platform that will connect policymakers with local experiences, research and expertise to develop evidence-based policies on climate, nature and governance.

According to research presented by the organisers, the key challenges in climate finance include equitable distribution of funds from global to local levels and the long-term sustainability of essential services.

Field observations under the GO4IMPact programme in Satkhira and Naogaon found that only 35% of households in coastal areas have access to safe drinking water throughout the year.

Change Initiative said local budgets prioritise infrastructure construction over maintenance, making it difficult to sustain essential services after projects end. The organisers called for more grant-based financing, better fund distribution and long-term maintenance plans.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan attended the dialogue as the chief guest. Deepak Elmer, chargé d'affaires at the Swiss Embassy in Bangladesh, and MP Mansura Akter were special guests.

Change Initiative CEO M Zakir Hossain Khan said humanity had crossed seven of the nine planetary boundaries and stressed the need to put nature and people's fundamental rights at the centre of development policies.

He called for reducing the debt burden of climate finance, ensuring funds reach vulnerable communities and taking concrete action beyond international commitments. He also stressed collective efforts by the government, businesses and society to protect nature.

Abdul Moyeen Khan said climate finance should be assessed not only by the amount received but also by how effectively the money is used for public welfare.

“The question is whether we have used the money we borrow properly,” he said.

He urged policymakers to prioritise local needs, saying planning should begin at the grassroots rather than in the Planning Ministry.

Deepak Elmer stressed that effective governance, clear institutional responsibilities and adequate resources were essential for climate finance to deliver lasting results. He said the real measure of climate finance was its impact on people's lives and nature, not the amount raised.

MP Mansura Akter called for public participation at every stage of policymaking and implementation.

At a roundtable, former environment secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed stressed national capacity and self-reliance in addressing climate change. ActionAid Bangladesh Country Director Farah Kabir called for integrated plans for water security, food security and biodiversity conservation.

Climate change expert Dr Fazle Rabbi Sadek Ahmed said climate finance was Bangladesh's right, particularly for adaptation and addressing climate-induced loss and damage.

IUCN Bangladesh Country Representative Bipasha S Hossain stressed the need for continued funding and empowered local communities to sustain successful projects after their completion.

The NGPP will advise policymakers on climate, nature and governance, drawing on local experience and research. Change Initiative will serve as its technical secretariat.

State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam has agreed to serve as the platform's initial convener.

The founding members include MPs Mahmuda Habiba, Mansura Akter and Md Mostafizur Rahman; former Department of Environment official Md Ziaul Haque; climate expert Dr Fazle Rabbi Sadek Ahmed; Jahangirnagar University professor Dr Sharmind Neelormi; and GreenWatchBD Editor Mostafa Kamal Majumder.

Members will serve in their individual capacities, with membership to be expanded gradually.

In his closing remarks, WaterAid Bangladesh Country Director (In-charge) Md Tahmidul Islam said young representatives wanted transparency in climate finance and expressed hope for continued government support for the platform.

-AJM