Community-focused action key to Bangladesh’s climate goals: Experts

Calls are growing louder for greater transparency and participation in Bangladesh's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), the country's climate action plans submitted under the Paris Agreement, to more effectively tackle climate change.

In the context of a global push for a just transition and the 1.5°C temperature goal, experts at a roundtable stressed that Bangladesh's forthcoming NDC must be inclusive and community-driven, incorporating the voices of those most vulnerable – particularly youth and marginalised communities.

Oxfam and The Business Standard jointly organised the event titled "Towards a People-Centred NDC: Amplifying Community Voices for Inclusive Climate Action" at TBS conference room in the capital's Eskaton on 10 September.

Farhana Islam

Head of Environmental, Social & Governance, Grameenphone

The main purpose of today's discussion is to address climate change mitigation. As a representative of the private sector, I must stress that our collective role is critical in tackling this global challenge. Grameenphone has set a clear climate ambition: to cut its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement and the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi). By 2025, we aim for a 27% reduction, which will require 320 GWh of renewable energy.

To achieve this, strong policy support is urgently needed, particularly the swift adoption of a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) policy. This would enable the private sector to access renewable energy at scale. Bangladesh has immense solar potential, which can be harnessed with the right policies and investments, especially in remote areas.

Alongside climate action, digital and financial inclusion are vital. Grameenphone has already trained 3.3 million marginalised people in digital skills, empowering them to use technology to improve their lives.

Ultimately, only collective effort – private, public, and development sectors together – can drive meaningful climate action.

Munir Uddin Shamim

Senior Manager-Programme, Evidence and Learning, Ethical Trading Initiative

The Bangladesh government often cites "community participation" in its policies, but in practice, it is elite-driven. Diverse groups – workers, marginalised populations, and various professions – must have meaningful representation, requiring a broader, more inclusive definition of participation.

Workers, in particular, play an indispensable role in industrialisation and business processes, yet they are completely absent in the current NDC document. For ethical business and sustainability, workers' rights, interests, and participation must be guaranteed.

Bangladesh must balance local priorities with global obligations. With EU net-zero targets and mandatory HREDD from 2027, European buyers will require compliant supply chains. As Bangladesh graduates from LDC status in 2026, just transition and ethical sourcing must be integrated into national planning.

Yet the current NDC shows no negotiation, strategy, or planning in this regard. Many factories are green-certified, but how "green" is the transition for workers?

Finally, the NDC cannot be inclusive if it only engages the private or development sectors. Strong political commitment is essential, with parties embedding environmental priorities into their election manifestos.

Sekender Ali Mina

Founder and Executive Director, Safety and Rights Society (SRS)

In the NDC process, people's participation has not been properly ensured, particularly the voices of indigenous, marginalised, and working-class communities. Workers are among the most affected, yet their opinions remain absent. A major weakness lies in implementation, with no dedicated authority. Ministries are busy with projects, but effectiveness is poor.

Awareness and communication are also lacking – many are unaware of the 2015 or 2020 NDCs. Labour unions and federations were excluded, leaving 75 million workers unrepresented in the policymaking process. Regarding just transition, there is no clear strategy for retraining, alternative employment, or assessing the environmental impacts of technologies such as solar.

Roufa Khanum

Assistant Director, Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER), BRAC University

Consultations for the new NDC process are still unfinished. Some scientists at the Department of Environment are setting targets, while broader consultations continue for drafting the main document. Adaptation will remain cross-cutting to avoid overlap with the National Adaptation Plan, but integrating loss and damage remains a challenge.

The main weaknesses are poor consultation and weak monitoring. Outcomes are often excluded from reports, undermining transparency. Policymaking also slows when only senior experts (PhDs, etc.) are prioritised, affecting quality and timeliness. Future NDC reports must ensure evidence-based consultations, with participants' voices directly reflected.

Sunzida Sultana 

Additional Executive Director, Karmojibi Nari (KN)

Poor working women or labourers do not simply give up and commit suicide – despite hardships, they continue to struggle. This is why their participation in policy and planning is vital, yet still missing. Important projects, like the child labour database, have been completed, but continuity is absent as government and institutions remain project-dependent without an integrated national vision.

Workers in global supply chains face double pressure – excluded locally and unaware of factory plans. With green transformation and new machinery, many are losing jobs without alternative employment or retraining. BGMEA and BKMEA speak of sustainability, but workers' futures lack a clear roadmap, despite opportunities in recycling and yarn production.

Banasree Mitra Neogi

Director - Rights and Governance Programmes, MJF

First, while many recommendations are given, final documents are often drafted differently, leaving a major gap in implementation. 

Second, geographical contexts – such as salinity in coastal areas, haor problems, hill erosion, or drought – are not sufficiently analysed, though solutions must vary by region. 

Third, inclusion is often reduced to gender equality, while intersectional realities of indigenous women, women with disabilities, and marginalised groups remain overlooked. 

Fourth, CSOs have long promoted people-centric approaches, but their voices are undervalued in policymaking. Finally, we must clarify what inclusiveness means, prioritise sectors like energy and budgeting, and strengthen monitoring and accountability mechanisms.

Rabeya Begum 

Executive Director, Shariatpur Development Society (SDS)

Civil society and community voices are often mentioned, but in reality, they remain largely absent from policymaking. Communities are rarely represented in roundtables or workshops, though their lived experiences must shape policy. 

Bangladesh faces recurring disasters – floods, river erosion, salinity, and drought – that displace thousands. Yet the government lacks complete data. For example, recent erosion in Shariatpur displaced 4,000 people, but no proper records existed. Without data, how can implementers respond effectively?

Despite years of NDC discussions, implementation is slow as climate change accelerates. Other countries advance faster, and Bangladesh must learn from them. Civil society engages communities, raises awareness, and connects them to services, making public education a key area for NDC implementation.

Md Shamsuddoha 

Chief Executive, Centre for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD)

Bangladesh will submit its new NDC by September 2025 under the UNFCCC, updating commitments to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Previous NDCs in 2015 and 2021 were deemed insufficient, highlighting the need for stronger plans.

They note the NDC process has been largely consultant-driven, leaving little room for people's participation, local knowledge, or community input. Repeatedly assigning the same institutions also risks group interests and governance challenges.

Alongside NDCs, countries must prepare a long-term Net Zero strategy. While the global target is 2050, Bangladesh has not set a year – some suggest 2060, others 2070. Experts stress that only inclusive processes and stronger coordination can make Bangladesh's climate commitments effective.

Haseeb Md Irfanullah 

Independent Consultant – Environment, Climate Change & Research System

Our study shows that public and civil society participation is poorly reflected in the NDC and NC processes. While ministries and technical experts have clear roles, ordinary citizens, local communities, and women remain weakly represented.

Key gaps include a lack of transparency, limited CSO involvement, weak communication and feedback, poor geographic representation, and inadequate use of expert opinions. This undermines people's ownership, reduces accountability, and creates long-term negative impacts.

We believe an inclusive planning framework is essential. Eight priorities must guide this: recognising participation, identifying stakeholders, creating inclusive decision structures, ensuring information flow, building capacity, integrating scientific knowledge, forming inclusive monitoring committees, and establishing continuous feedback systems.

Farah Kabir 

Country Director, ActionAid Bangladesh

Today's discussion focuses on transparency and consultation processes. The key point is that without community and grassroots consultations, no policy can be effective. 

Recent youth consultations show the value of grassroots data, but limited government and consultant focus reduces evidence quality. Using local languages, accessible formats, and proper documentation – covering domestic workers and affected families – is essential. Renewable energy, just transition, and climate budgeting demand collective, interdisciplinary efforts.

Our recommendations: implement community-driven consultations, ensure participation at local and divisional levels, establish grievance mechanisms, and guarantee inclusion of youth, women, and all social groups. Strong processes, monitoring, and participation are essential to achieve climate justice, gender justice, and real change, beyond mere policy.

Nusrat Naushin 

Coordinator for Loss and Damage Programme, International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD)

When discussing loss and damage, we note that while a National Adaptation Plan exists, there is no dedicated national framework for loss and damage. Some ministry-level initiatives and BCCRF funds exist, but these are limited to closed-door consultations, with information rarely shared.

For example, the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan was mainly prepared by external consultants, with minimal Bangladeshi ownership, raising questions about its practical effectiveness.

Loss and damage should be included in the NDC, at least as a cross-cutting issue. Local data, climate risk assessments, and strong data governance must be prioritised, as implementation will be weak without reliable information. At the same time, the NDC should maintain balance, avoiding overreliance on loss-and-damage or adaptation measures.

Md Golam Rabbani 

Associate Director, Climate Hub, BRAC and BRAC International

At the Bangladesh Institute, we monitor SDG implementation, assessing progress since 2015 and evaluating the credibility of government claims. Whether gaps can be closed by 2030 depends on our ongoing study.

Based on this work, we have organised programmes and marathons and invite collaboration from all stakeholders.

Our proposed four key elements are: analysing gaps in adaptation and loss and damage, identifying priority variables – especially marginalised and women farmers – ensuring integrated planning and accountability, and promoting fair and systematic allocation of climate finance.

Nuzhat Zabin

Country Director, Christian AID

These groups will work on monitoring, systematic tracking, and performing critical functions. They will also oversee emissions, investments, and implementation activities. Our goal is to ensure justice, fairness, and equity.

We have talked a lot about the 2015 process, but we have not discussed implementation. It would be good to hear whether real change will come for people. We must utilise the potential of women. In the end, it will not be enough to only hold discussions – we need to take action.

Md Sariful Islam

Head of ICAM, Oxfam

We are having this discussion at a time when work on the NDC is underway and COP is approaching. That makes this conversation all the more significant. I would like to begin from the community perspective.

In our research (2023-24), we observed that the NDC formulated under the Paris Agreement (2015) was largely developed through closed-door discussions. But the voices of those directly affected by climate change – such as communities, local organisations, and grassroots actors – have been very minimally reflected in the process.

We believe that public participation and community voices must be included in the NDC process. Otherwise, it will remain little more than a paper-based plan.

Oxfam began its journey by responding to the Bhola cyclone in 1970. Since then, we have been working as a people-centric organisation. That is why, even today, our message remains clear: whether it is the NDC or any other national plan, everyone's voice must be reflected