Bangladesh needs over $230bn for 113 climate adaptation projects

Bangladesh needs more than $230 billion to implement 113 major interventions across the country to protect climate-vulnerable people, pursue climate justice and secure financial and technological support for implementing its National Adaptation Plan (NAP).

Bangladesh has identified 113 major projects to be implemented by 2040, while the NAP is designed to cover the implementation of these projects from 2023 to 2050.

The COP31 Presidency gathered heads of state and government in Antalya to send a strong, collective signal that the world remains committed to climate action. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived at the COP31 venue on Wednesday to join the two-day World Leaders' Summit.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam told a media briefing at the Bangladesh Pavilion, “Bangladesh will seek grant-based climate finance and effective support to address loss and damage at the COP31 conference.” 

“Today's discussion was on ‘Zero Waste COP – Incinerators out. Zero Waste in’. Bangladesh is working on waste management issues. However, we also appeal to countries to invest in Bangladesh's waste projects. We are also exhibiting jute here to attract industries to use it as an alternative fibre,” says State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam in the briefing.

Dr Saimum Parvez, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Environment, Forest and Climate Change, also spoke at the briefing.

He said Bangladesh would prioritise securing adequate grant-based climate finance at COP31. Specifically, he said, the country would advocate for an increase in grants rather than adding to its debt burden to support adaptation efforts and address climate-induced loss and damage. He added that Bangladesh would also call for the simplification of application and approval processes for climate funds.

In response to a question, Dr Saimum Parvez explained that Bangladesh's position paper had been formulated by incorporating input from relevant ministries, departments and agencies, as well as advice from climate experts.

The Bangladesh delegation would work in the national interest, in coordination with the Least Developed Countries (LDC) group, the G-77 and like-minded climate-vulnerable nations, he said.

He said Bangladesh expected the COP31 conference to make concrete progress on climate finance and implementation support, measures essential for addressing climate risks and safeguarding human lives and livelihoods.

Dr Fahmida Khanam, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, Additional Secretary; Dr Md Lutfor Rahman, Director General of the Department of Environment; and Md Amir Hosain Chowdhury, Chief Conservator of Forests, were present, among others.