Bangladesh warns of deepening divisions centring climate finance as COP30 enters crucial phase

Bangladesh — one of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, facing escalating climate-induced losses, debt pressures and year-round disasters — has warned that COP30 negotiations are being slowed by deep divisions over climate finance, particularly on whether Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement should be taken up as a dedicated agenda item.

Article 9.1 obligates developed countries to provide financial resources to developing nations for both mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Speaking at a mid-COP30 press briefing in Belem on Monday, Navid Shafiullah, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Deputy Head of Bangladesh's delegation, said the lack of progress is causing growing frustration among developing countries.

"Parties have not reached consensus on even placing Article 9.1 as a standalone agenda item," he said, describing the hesitation as part of broader attempts to dilute the financial responsibilities of developed countries.

However, when asked which countries were obstructing discussions on Article 9.1, Ziaul Haque, Additional Director General of the Department of Environment, clarified that Bangladesh was "not saying anybody is objecting" to discussing Article 9.1 itself. "The point is whether we need a separate agenda item for 9.1," he said. "There is a divergence on this. We feel there is scope and space where we can discuss 9.1 in a detailed manner."

A.K.M. Sohel, Additional Secretary and Wing Chief for the UN at the Economic Relations Division, noted that while COP29 secured agreement around $300 billion in annual climate finance, developing countries are still negotiating the roadmap from COP29 in Baku to COP30 in Belem to reach the proposed $1.3 trillion goal. "Bangladesh is optimistic we will get there," he said. "We want a dedicated discussion."

Shafiullah said the impasse over Article 9.1 has overshadowed several key negotiation tracks, including the Loss and Damage Fund and the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA).

The press conference was held at Press Conference Room 1 in the Blue Zone of the COP30 venue in Belem, Brazil, on Monday afternoon.

Bangladesh used the briefing to set out a detailed list of priorities for the second week of the summit.

Among its top priorities, Dhaka called for a clear path to implementing the new climate finance goal — including the tripling of adaptation finance to $120 bn by 2030 — and reiterated its position that this support must come mainly as grant-based public finance.

Loans for adaptation, Shafiullah cautioned, only deepen the vulnerability of frontline countries.

The delegation stressed the need for predictable, country-aligned adaptation finance that prioritises the most climate-exposed developing nations, including LDCs and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and supports the implementation of Bangladesh's National Adaptation Plan.

On the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), Bangladesh warned that progress risks becoming ineffective without the adoption of dedicated means of implementation indicators.

Shafiullah emphasised that without clear baselines, indicators and monitoring frameworks, the GGA would fail to deliver meaningful outcomes, particularly for local communities where climate impacts are most severe.

Responding to a question, Ziaul Haque added that countries have been negotiating the GGA for three years, and that it is now critical for COP30 – through CMA7 – to adopt the goal, targets and implementation framework.

He noted that discussions on how to link financing mechanisms to GGA implementation could continue in future sessions, such as CMA8 or CMA9.

Bangladesh also pressed for a stronger Loss and Damage Fund with provisions for direct national access, faster disbursement, and clearer links to the broader climate finance architecture.

Support, Shafiullah said, must reach affected communities "when they need it most — not years later."

On mitigation, he highlighted divisions over referencing the 1.5°C target, the role of the IPCC, and the future of the mitigation work programme.

Bangladesh reiterated that "we cannot negotiate with science," insisting that 1.5°C must remain central.

Looking ahead, Bangladesh delegation said they expect COP30 to deliver a credible roadmap for the new climate finance goal, an actionable GGA, and a just transition work programme that protects workers and vulnerable communities.

This story was produced as part of the 2025 Climate Change Media Partnership, a journalism fellowship organized by Internews' Earth Journalism Network and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security.