Bangladesh eyes global climate finance through investment-ready projects

Experts said at a high-level policy dialogue in Dhaka that Bangladesh is seeking to unlock more global climate finance by strengthening climate literacy, preparing investment-ready projects and expanding partnerships with international financial institutions.

The Economic Relations Division's International Climate Finance Cell organised the dialogue under the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership, with technical support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), according to a press release.

Titled "Building Bangladesh as a Trillion-Dollar Climate-Resilient Economy: Accelerating Climate Finance Mobilisation Through Strategic and Investment-Ready Climate Project Designs", the event was held on Thursday and marked the cell's 33rd initiative.

Senior policymakers, international development partners, financial institutions, private-sector representatives, academics and civil society leaders were invited to attend the dialogue.

Despite contributing less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Bangladesh remains among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. The country faces rising sea levels, extreme weather, floods, river erosion, salinity intrusion and growing pressure on livelihoods.

Speakers said climate finance was not only an economic concern for millions of people living in coastal, riverine and climate-exposed areas, but also a matter of survival, dignity and long-term resilience.

They said success should be measured not only by the amount of finance mobilised but also by whether the resources were accessible, transparent and accountable, and whether they directly benefited climate-vulnerable communities.

The discussion highlighted the need to improve climate literacy among government officials, development professionals, financial institutions, private-sector representatives and emerging climate leaders.

Speakers said limited understanding of climate science, financing mechanisms and project preparation remained a major barrier to accessing global climate funds.

Greater climate literacy would allow institutions to translate scientific evidence, climate risks, and community realities into strategic plans, theories of change, and finance-ready proposals that demonstrate resilience, economic benefits, and measurable impact, they added.

Economic Relations Division UN Wing Chief AKM Sohel said climate literacy provided a vital connection between climate realities and financial feasibility.

He highlighted the importance of developing strategic approaches to help stakeholders design projects that met the requirements of international climate finance mechanisms, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

"Climate finance must be supported by strong knowledge, innovation and effective project design. Without climate literacy, even critical ideas may fail to become successful investments," he said.

Delivering the keynote address, Economic Relations Division Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky said Bangladesh had historically struggled to secure adequate international climate finance despite being among the countries most affected by climate change.

He stressed the need for stronger national ownership, greater institutional capacity, innovative financing approaches and increased private-sector engagement to mobilise climate investment at scale.

Experts said climate finance should be predictable and accessible, allowing local organisations and vulnerable communities to participate in developing climate solutions.

They also emphasised that adaptation finance and resilience investments must strengthen livelihoods, reduce risks and deliver long-term development benefits.

"Climate finance mobilisation is a shared responsibility that requires partnership, innovation and a strong commitment to developing effective projects," Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky said.

ADB Country Director Qingfeng Zhang reaffirmed the development bank's continued partnership with Bangladesh.

He emphasised the importance of developing scalable, financially viable climate projects that can attract international resources.

Climate finance success depended not only on the availability of funding but also on the ability to design projects delivering measurable development and resilience outcomes, he said.

Speaking as the chief guest, Prime Minister's Adviser Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir linked Bangladesh's ambitions for economic transformation with its responsibility to ensure a safe and sustainable future for future generations.

He urged stakeholders to align national development strategies with international commitments, including the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir called for greater mobilisation of private capital. He urged international climate funds to simplify their procedures and respond more effectively to the needs of vulnerable developing countries.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Affairs, Dr Saimum Parvez, highlighted the importance of strategic planning, effective partnerships, and investment-ready initiatives in supporting Bangladesh's transition towards a sustainable and resilient economy.

High Commissioner Sarah Cooke joined government leaders and climate practitioners after being invited to discuss how climate finance could support Bangladesh's resilience, growth and development.

She said the United Kingdom was proud to work with Bangladesh to strengthen climate finance capacity and unlock carbon market opportunities.

The dialogue examined practical strategies to strengthen Bangladesh's climate finance ecosystem and transform climate priorities into actionable, investment-ready solutions.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Additional Secretary and Climate Change Wing Chief Mohammad Navid Safiullah said climate change was no longer a future threat but a present reality and one of the defining development challenges of the time.

He highlighted progress in implementing the National Adaptation Plan 2023–2050 and updated Nationally Determined Contributions, stressing the need for regular reviews to accelerate implementation.

Safiullah identified gaps in climate finance and data, inadequate coordination and limited information sharing as major barriers to effective climate action.

He outlined Bangladesh's efforts to strengthen climate finance through the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund, blended finance, the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership and preparations for carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

He called for closer collaboration, strategic partnerships, collective action and an inclusive approach to translating climate commitments into concrete measures for a greener, cleaner and more resilient Bangladesh.

The dialogue featured two panel discussions covering different stages of climate project development, from strengthening institutional capacity to mobilising finance at scale.

Economic Relations Division Joint Secretary Dr Shah Abdul Saadi moderated the event.

He facilitated discussions among policymakers, development partners, financial institutions, researchers, private-sector representatives and civil society organisations on strengthening climate project design, improving climate literacy and mobilising climate finance at greater scale and speed.

The first panel, titled "Improving Climate Literacy – A Key to Designing Strategic and Investment-Ready Climate Projects", brought together administrative heads and senior representatives from the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Department of Livestock Services, Department of Fisheries, Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation, Food and Agriculture Organisation, BRAC and YouthNet Global.

Panellists highlighted the importance of strengthening institutional knowledge, improving coordination and building the capacity required to transform climate challenges into technically sound and finance-ready project concepts.

Attending as guest of honour, UN Resident Coordinator ad interim Carol Flore-Smereczniak said climate finance extended beyond infrastructure and technology.

"Climate finance is not only about infrastructure or technology. It is about livelihoods, dignity, resilience and the ability of communities to remain safe in the face of climate stress," she said.

The second panel, titled "Designing Strategic and Investment-Ready Climate Projects – A Key to Mobilising Climate Finance at Scale and Speed", included representatives from international financial institutions, development partners, the private sector and civil society.

Representatives from the World Bank, ADB, the French Development Agency, the British High Commission in Dhaka, City Bank, Friendship, Footsteps, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, and other organisations participated in the discussion.

Panellists discussed innovative financing models, stronger partnerships, private-sector involvement and improved project preparation systems to accelerate access to climate finance and ensure that investments delivered measurable resilience outcomes.

The dialogue formed the second phase of the Economic Relations Division's flagship capacity-building programme, "From Vision to Approval: Unlocking GCF Financing Through High-Impact Concept Notes".

Speakers said climate finance must support a just transition by protecting livelihoods, creating green jobs and ensuring that workers, young people, women and vulnerable groups are not excluded from the shift towards a low-carbon and resilient economy.

Following online learning sessions, selected participants will join a residential climate leadership incubation laboratory, where they will receive expert guidance in developing investment-ready climate concept notes for submission to the GCF.

The programme aims to strengthen the capacity of professionals and emerging climate leaders to develop innovative solutions that address adaptation, mitigation, resilience, and sustainable development challenges.

Civil society leaders stressed that climate finance must move beyond policy discussions and reach communities directly experiencing the effects of climate change.

YouthNet Global Executive Coordinator Sohanur Rahman said climate finance should focus on justice, resilience, a just transition and meaningful participation by affected communities.

"Climate finance must move beyond numbers and reach communities facing the frontline impacts of the climate crisis," he said.

"It must support climate justice, just transition, resilience, and meaningful participation of young people, women, workers, and local communities."

He said involving young people, women, workers, and local communities in climate-related decision-making was essential to ensuring that investments created inclusive and lasting solutions.

Climate experts called for climate justice and a just transition to be incorporated into climate policies, financing mechanisms, and development pathways.

They said a just transition involved not only moving towards cleaner technologies but also protecting workers' rights, creating decent employment, strengthening social dialogue, and ensuring that communities could thrive in a changing economy.

They also called for stronger social protection for climate-affected communities and informal workers, as well as meaningful participation by women, Indigenous peoples, workers, and local communities in climate-related decision-making.

The event concluded with government officials, international partners, and climate stakeholders reaffirming Bangladesh's commitment to strengthening climate governance, improving access to global climate finance, and advancing sustainable development.

Bangladesh has developed considerable experience in climate adaptation through community-based resilience programmes, disaster preparedness, and locally driven initiatives.

Stakeholders said the country's experience showed how climate-vulnerable nations could combine local adaptation knowledge, institutional innovation, and inclusive governance to shape a more equitable climate finance system.

They said resilience could not be built through funding alone but required knowledge, inclusion, accountability, and investment that reached communities on the front lines of climate change.

For Bangladesh and other climate-vulnerable countries, they added, the future of climate finance would be measured not only by the billions mobilised but also by whether those resources protected people, sustained livelihoods, and ensured a fair transition for future generations.