Bangladesh used a high-level COP30 event to urge scaled-up climate finance for its globally acclaimed green RMG sector, warning that despite hosting the world’s highest number of green factories, billions in investment are needed to meet 2030 targets and stay competitive.
Bangladesh showcased its global leadership in green apparel manufacturing at COP30 while urging international partners to scale up climate finance to support the sustainability transition of its Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector, the backbone of the country’s export economy.
At a high-level session on Thursday titled “Mobilising Climate Finance to Accelerate Sustainability Transition of the RMG Sector of Bangladesh: Opportunities and Challenges,” held at the Bangladesh Pavilion in the Blue Zone, senior officials, industry leaders and global experts underscored that Bangladesh’s progress will stall without predictable, long-term international financing.
The event was jointly organised by the Economic Relations Division (ERD), the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM) and the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
Opening the session, AKM Sohel, Additional Secretary of Economic Relations Division, said Bangladesh had demonstrated that industrial growth and sustainability “can move together,” but warned that the transition cannot advance without meaningful flows of climate finance. “The global community must recognise the urgency,” he said.
A visual presentation by BGMEA highlighted Bangladesh’s rise as a global leader in green apparel manufacturing, with around 250 LEED-certified factories, the highest number in the world. Officials said these facilities have already reduced energy and water consumption and lowered emissions while setting global benchmarks in sustainable production. Yet they stressed that billions of dollars in investment are required to decarbonise the sector and meet fast-evolving buyer standards.
In a prerecorded keynote, Vidya Amrit Khan, Managing Director of Desh Garments Ltd and BGMEA Vice President, said climate finance “is no longer a choice.” She warned that without scaled-up global support, the sector risks losing competitiveness. “Manufacturers have shown leadership, but the burden of transition cannot fall on factories alone,” she said.
Dr Shah Abdul Saadi, presenting a technical keynote on Bangladesh’s NDC3.0, argued that without targeted investment, the RMG sector will struggle to meet its 2030 emission-reduction targets. He outlined how national climate commitments could attract international financing for low-carbon technologies and resource-efficient production.
Panelists echoed the call for urgent financial support. Joaquim Leite, Head of Climate Finance at the NDC Partnership, said Bangladesh was “one of the most promising countries for green industrial transformation,” but needed predictable, long-term climate financing to scale its progress. He stressed competitiveness and resilience, noting that renewable energy would cut emissions while reducing costs.
Sara Jane Ahmed, Managing Director of CVF-V20 and Finance Advisor to the V20, said climate finance must reach sectors that sit at the intersection of economic importance and climate vulnerability. “The RMG sector is exactly that intersection,” she said.
Samiun Nabi, Climate Finance Expert at IWM, highlighted carbon markets as a significant opportunity for Bangladesh, saying they could unlock “millions for decarbonisation and resilience” if strategically developed.
The session concluded with a question-and-answer segment and closing remarks from Sohel, who called for stronger international financing commitments to match Bangladesh’s achievements in sustainable manufacturing.
Speakers noted that while Bangladesh has set global standards in green apparel production, achieving the 2030 ESG goals will require substantial investment. Blended finance, carbon markets and new international partnerships were identified as critical tools for accelerating the sector’s transition.
Organisers said insights from the discussion would feed into a climate-finance blueprint to guide the RMG sector’s roadmap to environmental sustainability, resilience and global competitiveness.
Bangladesh’s active participation at COP30, they added, reflects its determination to lead sustainable industrial transformation and reinforce its position as a frontrunner in the global apparel supply chain.
