Researchers, policymakers and development partners called for stronger evidence, localized data and institutional coordination to ensure non-economic climate losses are reflected in Bangladesh’s emerging national loss and damage framework.
Senior government officials, researchers and climate experts gathered in Bangladesh on July 29 to discuss how evidence on non-economic climate loss and damage can be incorporated into the country’s evolving national policy framework during a high-level policy dialogue focused on strengthening future climate action.
The Bangladesh Climate Change Trust (BCCT), a government body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, organized the dialogue in collaboration with the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) and ADAMS Foundation, with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bangladesh. The event, titled “Integrating Non-Economic Loss and Damage (NELD) Evidence into Bangladesh’s National Mechanism on Loss and Damage (NMLD),” brought together senior government officials, researchers, development partners, civil society representatives and climate experts.
Bangladesh continues to face severe climate impacts, including cyclones, floods, river erosion, salinity intrusion, heatwaves and sea-level rise. Participants said these events result not only in economic losses but also affect culture, mental health, biodiversity, traditional knowledge, social cohesion and human mobility.
The dialogue focused on incorporating evidence from ICCCAD’s research initiatives into the National Framework on Loss and Damage (NFLD) and the proposed National Mechanism on Loss and Damage (NMLD).
The meeting presented findings generated through the Evidence-Based Approach to Address Non-Economic Loss and Damage (EBAAN) project and the Multi-Actor Partnership (MAP) to address Loss and Damage through Local Loss and Damage Policy Labs (LDPLs) and Local Loss and Damage Hubs. Participants discussed how community-generated data and local experiences could be integrated into national policy, monitoring systems, institutional coordination and climate finance mechanisms. They also examined ways to strengthen collaboration among government ministries, researchers, local governments and development partners while identifying recommendations for incorporating NELD indicators into the design of the NMLD.
Mazadul Haque Bayzid, Research Officer at ICCCAD, outlined the organization’s work on advancing Bangladesh’s Loss and Damage agenda through research, policy engagement and institutional development. He distinguished mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage, saying that non-economic losses, including impacts on mental health, identity, culture, biodiversity and social cohesion, are often irreversible and require dedicated policy attention.
Drawing on findings from the EBAAN project in Sunamganj, Barishal and Kurigram, he said community evidence is translated into policy through Loss and Damage Policy Labs and Local Loss and Damage Hubs, which strengthen evidence generation, community participation and climate finance readiness. He also presented a roadmap linking local evidence to the proposed National Framework and National Mechanism on Loss and Damage while aligning with global climate finance mechanisms.
“We have collected valuable evidence from affected communities. The next challenge is to transform that evidence into policies and systems that can effectively address Loss and Damage,” Bayzid said.
Adv. Khan Hafij, founder and Executive Director of the Center for Climate Justice-Bangladesh (CCJ-B), said understanding non-economic losses is the first step toward developing appropriate tools and methodologies. He said quantifying emotional and cultural losses remains one of the greatest challenges.
“How can we quantify a person’s feeling that disaster has taken away my land or my father’s grave through river erosion? These are real challenges that require localized methodologies,” he said.
Hafij also called for moving beyond short-term project-based interventions.
“We need to move from project-based work to programme-based work so that we can directly access climate finance and invest where it is most needed. Functional institutional arrangements must be developed and integrated into the national plan and the National Mechanism. We look forward to strong support from the Ministry in advancing these steps,” he said.
Rabeya Begum, Executive Director of the SDS-Shariatpur Development Society, said her work in river erosion-prone areas had shown that climate displacement carries significant human consequences beyond financial losses.
“I have seen people in Sirajganj who have lost their homes and moved 15 to 20 times during their lives due to river erosion. They lose not only their land but also their identity, voting rights and social belonging. These are non-economic losses that must be recognized,” she said.
Begum added that economic and non-economic losses should receive equal policy attention.
“Economic and non-economic losses should receive equal importance. As non-economic loss and damage is still an emerging field, we need more evidence, more discussions and stronger policy integration. We look forward to working together with ICCCAD and other partners,” she said.
Md. Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive of the Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD), reviewed the evolution of Loss and Damage in United Nations climate negotiations, saying it had taken nearly 25 years for the issue to gain recognition under the Paris Agreement.
He said mitigation and adaptation alone cannot fully address climate impacts.
“We cannot jump directly into Loss and Damage without first addressing mitigation and adaptation. We must avoid climate risks where possible, minimize unavoidable impacts and then address the remaining Loss and Damage,” he said.
He added: “Loss and Damage exists alongside mitigation and adaptation; it is about addressing the impacts that remain after their effects have been minimized.”
Shamsuddoha also stressed the need for institutional integration.
“We need a strong Loss and Damage mechanism supported by dedicated institutions and sectoral systems. If knowledge is not disseminated across sectors, the National Mechanism will remain isolated. Most importantly, we must place people, not disasters, at the centre of our policies,” he said.
Throughout the discussion, Dr. Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed, Research and Policy Advisor at ICCCAD, said effective implementation of Bangladesh’s Loss and Damage agenda requires coordinated action among government institutions, researchers, civil society organizations and development partners.
He said greater collaboration, additional case studies, standardized guidelines and stronger evidence are essential to make non-economic Loss and Damage measurable and effectively integrated into national policy. He also said Bangladesh should continue strengthening mitigation and adaptation while advancing Loss and Damage as a key component of climate action.
The event concluded with remarks from participating officials, who emphasized sustained collaboration, evidence-based policymaking and collective action.
Dr. Shahpar Selim, Programme Officer representing the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bangladesh, reaffirmed Norway’s long-standing support for climate initiatives in Bangladesh, including capacity building and resilience programmes.
“We are witnessing climate action in practice, from field-level initiatives to student engagement, and everyone must take this shared responsibility seriously,” he said.
Dr. Md. Saidur Rahman, Additional Secretary at Bangladesh’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said stronger ICT-enabled data systems, localized actions and continued dialogue are needed.
“Better evidence, particularly on the vulnerabilities of women, children and local communities, is essential for effective Loss and Damage integration,” he said.
Ahmed reiterated the need for “more case studies, practical guidelines and stronger evidence to advance the quantification and integration of non-economic Loss and Damage.”
Closing the programme, BCCT Managing Director (Additional Secretary) Gazi Md. Wali-Ul-Hoque thanked participants for their engagement.
“Your thoughtful participation and constructive discussions have made this event meaningful, and I look forward to continued collaboration in advancing this important agenda,” he said.
