At the WEF summit, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister urged faster climate finance delivery, full Loss and Damage Fund implementation, and stronger adaptation support for vulnerable nations ahead of COP31.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for urgent global action to translate climate commitments into implementation, warning that delays in delivery risk deepening uncertainty for vulnerable countries.
“Climate pledges must now be translated into action and commitments into results so that the world can embrace the future with confidence,” he said, urging stronger international cooperation at the World Economic Forum (WEF) New Champions Annual Meeting.
He expressed hope that the upcoming UN Climate Summit, COP31, in Antalya, Turkey, would deliver meaningful progress and reaffirmed Bangladesh’s readiness to contribute to global climate efforts. He also called for coordinated support for low-lying delta nations facing rising sea levels and intensifying climate impacts.
Three priority areas highlighted
Speaking at the session titled “Climate Leadership in a Shifting Global Landscape,” the Prime Minister outlined three key priorities for global climate governance.
First, he said the Loss and Damage Fund must move quickly from commitment to full implementation, ensuring it is accessible, predictable and effective for climate-vulnerable countries.
Second, he called for climate finance to be simplified, transparent and better aligned with the needs of developing nations, alongside stronger private-sector engagement and expanded technology transfer. He also stressed the importance of accelerating the operational effectiveness of the Green Climate Fund.
Third, he emphasized that adaptation must receive equal priority to mitigation, noting that for countries like Bangladesh it is a matter of necessity rather than choice. He further stated that the proposed $300 billion global climate finance target remains insufficient compared with the needs of developing countries, echoing concerns raised by UN trade and development assessments.
Call for implementation-focused global leadership
He urged global leaders to move beyond political differences and focus on delivering concrete outcomes, stressing that climate inaction threatens millions of lives and livelihoods worldwide.
He added that COP31 should reflect the full spirit of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, framing climate action not as a cost but as “an investment in prosperity, stability and a shared future.”
Diplomatic engagements in China
The Prime Minister is currently visiting China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and is holding a series of high-level bilateral meetings.
He is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan on June 24, hold formal talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on June 25 and meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 26.
He is expected to return to Bangladesh on the night of June 26 after concluding his official engagements.
