A 23-member panel will bring government, experts, civil society and youth voices together to define Bangladesh’s priorities on finance, adaptation, justice and just transition.
Bangladesh has formed a 23-member sub-committee to prepare the country’s position paper for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), bringing together government officials, climate experts, civil society representatives, and youth climate leaders to shape its negotiating priorities on the global climate stage.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued an office order on August 18, 2026, announcing the formation of the committee ahead of COP31, which will be held in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20, 2026.
As one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries and an active voice among Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Bangladesh has consistently called for stronger international action on climate finance, adaptation support, loss and damage, technology transfer, and a just transition that protects vulnerable communities.
Bangladesh has also played an active role in advancing the concerns of climate-vulnerable developing countries through platforms such as the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group, advocating for greater equity, predictable finance, and stronger international solidarity in climate action.
The COP31 position paper is expected to outline Bangladesh’s priorities on ensuring equitable climate action, particularly for communities facing the impacts of rising sea levels, extreme weather events, climate-induced displacement, agricultural challenges, and increasing pressure on urban systems.
Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, Additional Secretary (Climate Change) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has been appointed as the chairperson of the sub-committee.
Shamim Ara Rini, Deputy Secretary of the Climate Change-1 Branch of the ministry, will serve as the member-secretary.
The committee includes senior representatives from key government institutions, including Mirza Shawkat Ali, Director (Climate Change and International Convention) of the Department of Environment, Bangladesh Forest Department, Cabinet Division, Finance Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Power Division, and Road Transport and Highways Division.
In a move towards more inclusive climate policymaking, the committee also includes leading climate researchers, civil society representatives, legal experts, development professionals, and youth leaders.
The members include Dr. Mizan R. Khan of the LDC University Consortium on Climate Change, Md. Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive of the Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD), Dr. Liaquat Ali, Director of BRAC, Advocate M. Hafijul Islam Khan, Executive Director of Bangladesh Centre for Climate Justice, climate finance expert Dr. Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed, Prof. Dr. Saifullah Islam of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dr. Md. Shahid Uz Zaman, Executive Director of the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO), and Bipasha Hossain, Country Director of IUCN.
The committee’s youth engagement component highlights the growing role of young climate negotiators in national and international climate diplomacy. Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global, and Amanullah Parag, Executive Director of Youth for NDC, both youth climate negotiators and climate policy advocates, will contribute their perspectives and experiences to the COP31 preparation process.
The inclusion of civil society and youth representatives reflects growing recognition that effective climate negotiations require diverse perspectives, especially from groups directly connected to climate impacts. Youth participation is increasingly shaping discussions on climate justice, intergenerational equity, and pathways for a fair and inclusive transition.
COP31 will focus on translating climate commitments into accelerated implementation, with discussions expected to address key areas including clean energy transformation, resilient infrastructure, sustainable cities, and other action priorities. Hosted by Türkiye, the summit will advance global climate negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
A central issue for COP31 discussions will be advancing global efforts on a just transition, including the operationalisation of the Belém Action Mechanism (BAM), agreed upon at COP30. The mechanism aims to strengthen coordination on just transition efforts, mobilise climate finance, and protect human rights, workers, and Indigenous communities as countries move away from fossil fuel dependence.
For Bangladesh, the just transition agenda is closely linked with ensuring affordable clean energy access, protecting workers and vulnerable communities, and securing international support for countries with limited financial and technological capacity to manage the economic and social costs of transformation.
The sub-committee will be responsible for drafting Bangladesh’s official COP31 position paper and coordinating related preparatory activities. It has also been authorised to co-opt additional members whenever necessary to strengthen the process.
The committee’s work will shape Bangladesh’s negotiating position at COP31, where the country is expected to continue advocating for stronger climate finance, climate justice, and greater support for frontline communities facing the impacts of a changing climate.
