CPRD study calls for stronger budget support to tackle climate-health risks

Amid rising climate-related health threats in Bangladesh, new research from the Centre for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD) found that government spending on climate resilience in the health sector has fallen. Climate-relevant allocation within the Health Services Division fell to 1.97% of the division's total budget, despite rising risks nationwide.

Ahead of the FY2026-27 national budget, policymakers, researchers, and public health experts called for urgent reforms in Bangladesh's climate-health financing at a high-level policy dialogue, "Climate Resilient Health System and Health Financing in Bangladesh".

The event was organised by CPRD in association with HEKS/EPER and Shushilan, and held on 6 June 2026 at BRAC Centre Inn, Dhaka.

Speakers noted that climate-relevant allocation in the Health Services Division fell from 2.74% in FY2021-22 to 1.97% in FY2025-26, even as climate-related health risks intensified nationwide.

The health sector's share of the national climate budget also shrank from around 2.5% to 1.5% over the same period.

Shirin Sultana Lira, Senior Programme Manager, Governance, Climate Change and Environment at the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, delivered the welcome remarks.

She emphasised the need for evidence-based policymaking to address the health impacts of climate change, stressing the importance of translating research into action.

She also called for higher national budget allocations for health and stronger engagement in international climate processes to unlock greater financing at national and global levels.

The event featured findings from two CPRD studies titled "Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on the Reproductive Health of Coastal Women and Adolescent Girls" and "Climate Finance for Health in Bangladesh: Policy Ambition and Fiscal Reality".

The studies identified major reproductive and maternal health challenges among women in coastal areas, driven by climate-induced poverty, water scarcity, salinity intrusion and inadequate sanitation.

Participants reported a wide range of reproductive health complications, including irregular menstruation, severe menstrual pain, amenorrhoea, abnormal bleeding, miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, postpartum infections, haemorrhage and chronic conditions.

The discussion also presented the financial landscape for the climate-health sector in Bangladesh.

The study found that less than 1% of Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) financing was allocated to health-related projects.

Of the 877 projects funded by the BCCTF as of 2024, only three were implemented by the Health Services Division.

The study also highlighted major structural weaknesses in climate-health financing.

While the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023-2050 identifies health as a priority and the Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP) estimates $1.4 billion will be needed over five years for climate-resilient health systems, current financing remains heavily project-based.

More than 60% of climate-health expenditure is concentrated in development projects, while key areas such as disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, workforce capacity and long-term system resilience remain underfunded.

The research underscores a persistent gap between national climate-health ambitions and the financing mechanisms needed to implement them.

The dialogue brought together senior government officials, public health experts, researchers, development partners, civil society, academics, climate specialists and media.

The session was facilitated by Md Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive of CPRD.

Dr Shah Abdul Saadi, Deputy Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), said establishing a strong climate rationale is essential for securing international climate finance.

He noted that, as global public finance for adaptation declined by $2 billion in a single year, Bangladesh's climate budget tagging system requires clearer definitions and stronger sectoral ownership.

He further stressed the importance of resource mobilisation, sectoral risk indexing and adopting a whole-of-sector approach.

Professor Dr Iqbal Kabir, Director, Climate Change and Health Promotion Unit (CCHPU), Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said only 5% of global climate finance reaches the health sector, demonstrating that climate-health remains neglected globally, not just in Bangladesh. He added that limited data is hindering efforts to develop stronger funding proposals and evidence-based, data-driven policies.

AKM Sohel, Additional Secretary and UN Wing Chief, Economic Relations Division (ERD), said climate change has yet to be fully integrated into development planning, leading to fragmented initiatives.

With global climate finance declining and further cuts likely, he called for more effective use of available resources.

The dialogue concluded with a set of policy recommendations for the FY2026-27 budget.

Recommendations included stronger integration of the National Adaptation Plan priorities into budgeting, improved climate-budget tracking, increased recurrent financing for preparedness and surveillance, and expanded access to domestic climate finance for health adaptation.