With climate-vulnerable communities facing mounting risks, Dhaka will seek accessible funding for adaptation, loss and damage, technology transfer and a fair transition to low-carbon development.
PM Tarique Rahman to attend World Leaders’ Summit on Nov 11–12; Bangladesh to showcase climate priorities at 100-square-metre pavilion in Antalya.
Bangladesh will push for increased grant-based climate finance, stronger global commitments on adaptation and greater protection for climate-vulnerable communities at the upcoming COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Türkiye, as the country seeks international support to address worsening climate impacts without increasing its debt burden.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will attend the two-day World Leaders’ Summit at COP31, scheduled for November 11–12, 2026, where he is expected to present Bangladesh’s national position on climate justice, international financial commitments and support for implementing climate action plans.
The 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will take place from November 9 to 20, bringing together world leaders, negotiators and representatives of international organisations to advance global climate action.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo outlined Bangladesh’s negotiating priorities at a press conference at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Thursday.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Environment and Climate Change Dr Saimum Parvez and Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Fahmida Khanam , Additional secretary Navid Saifullah, Kazi Rownaqul Islam Tipu is the Managing Director (MD) of the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust (BCCT)were also present.
Mintoo said Bangladesh would prioritise climate justice, the protection of vulnerable communities and international financial and technological support for implementing its national climate commitments.
The country will particularly emphasise the need for adequate, predictable and primarily grant-based climate finance, arguing that developing nations already facing severe climate impacts should not be forced to take on additional debt to protect their populations.
The minister said the Prime Minister’s participation would provide an opportunity to present Bangladesh’s concerns at the highest political level and seek stronger international cooperation.
Bangladesh is among the countries highly vulnerable to climate change despite contributing a relatively small share of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Cyclones, floods, coastal salinity, droughts and extreme heat are increasingly threatening lives, livelihoods, food production, freshwater resources and development prospects across the country.
The government has prepared a national position paper through consultations with relevant ministries, government agencies and climate experts.
Bangladesh will coordinate its negotiating positions with the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group, the Group of 77 and China, and other climate-vulnerable developing countries to advance shared priorities.
Climate finance at centre of negotiations
Climate finance will remain one of Bangladesh’s principal priorities at COP31, with the government seeking stronger implementation of financial commitments made by developed countries under international climate agreements.
Dhaka will call for adequate, predictable and accessible financial resources to support adaptation, climate resilience and the implementation of national climate plans.
A central demand will be that international climate assistance should be provided primarily through grants rather than loans, particularly for countries facing severe climate impacts and increasing fiscal pressures.
Bangladesh will also seek simplified application and approval procedures for international climate funds, arguing that complex administrative requirements and lengthy approval processes can delay urgent adaptation interventions.
The government will press for stronger implementation of the international climate finance framework and greater financial support for developing countries under the Paris Agreement.
Bangladesh’s position reflects a wider concern among vulnerable countries that climate finance delivered through loans can increase public debt while shifting the financial burden of addressing climate impacts onto nations that have contributed relatively little to global warming.
The government will therefore emphasise the importance of new and additional financial resources, particularly for adaptation and climate-induced loss and damage.
Loss and damage funding
Bangladesh will seek greater accessibility and effectiveness of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, established to assist developing countries particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
The country will advocate faster disbursement, simplified funding procedures and stronger support for communities experiencing irreversible climate impacts.
The government will also raise the need to address non-economic losses, including displacement, disruption of traditional livelihoods and damage to cultural heritage and community identity.
For Bangladesh, these issues are particularly relevant to coastal and riverine populations facing erosion, salinity intrusion, extreme weather events and the gradual loss of habitable land.
The minister said international climate support should respond to the real needs of affected communities rather than remain limited to financial commitments that are difficult to access.
Bangladesh will call for financial arrangements that enable vulnerable countries to respond effectively to climate-related disasters while strengthening long-term resilience.
Stronger emission cuts and the 1.5°C goal
Bangladesh will urge countries to accelerate science-based reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement’s objective of pursuing efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
The government will call on developed countries to demonstrate leadership in reducing emissions and encourage major emitting economies to strengthen their climate commitments according to their responsibilities and respective capabilities.
Bangladesh will also emphasise the need for international financial assistance, technology transfer and capacity-building support to help developing countries implement their nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
The government considers these measures essential for ensuring that climate commitments are translated into practical and measurable action.
The issue comes as international climate negotiations face mounting pressure to close the gap between existing national emission reduction commitments and the reductions required to meet the Paris Agreement’s temperature goals.
For Bangladesh, stronger global mitigation efforts remain essential because adaptation alone cannot eliminate the growing risks associated with continued warming.
Adaptation and protection of vulnerable communities
Implementation of Bangladesh’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) will be another major focus of the country’s negotiations.
The government will seek financial and technological support to strengthen climate resilience in coastal regions, wetlands, river islands and drought-prone areas.
Priority areas will include water security, food production, public health, disaster preparedness and the protection of climate-sensitive livelihoods.
Bangladesh will also highlight the importance of early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure and locally led adaptation initiatives.
The government wants international assistance to support community-based solutions that reflect local needs, traditional knowledge and the experiences of people directly affected by climate change.
Coastal communities facing cyclones and salinity intrusion, farmers experiencing irregular rainfall and drought, and riverine populations confronting erosion and displacement are among those expected to benefit from stronger adaptation support.
Bangladesh will emphasise that international adaptation finance must be accessible at the local level and contribute directly to protecting lives, livelihoods and essential services.
Just transition and clean energy
Bangladesh will seek international cooperation to support a just and equitable transition towards low-carbon development in the energy, agriculture, industrial and transport sectors.
The government will emphasise that the costs and benefits of the transition must be distributed fairly, with particular attention to workers, low-income communities, women and young people.
Skills development, social protection, labour rights and decent employment opportunities will form part of Bangladesh’s priorities under the just transition agenda.
The country will also advocate affordable access to renewable energy technologies, energy-efficient systems, cleaner industrial production and sustainable transport solutions.
Dhaka will stress the importance of international assistance in enabling developing economies to pursue cleaner growth without undermining employment, economic competitiveness or social development.
The government will seek to align the transition with national development priorities while ensuring that vulnerable groups are not disproportionately affected by changes in energy and industrial systems.
Carbon markets and technology transfer
Bangladesh will explore opportunities to mobilise additional financing and technological support through international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
The mechanism allows countries to cooperate in achieving their climate commitments, including through internationally transferred emission reductions and other forms of cooperation.
Bangladesh considers carbon markets a potential supplementary financing mechanism for implementing its NDCs and supporting low-carbon development.
However, the government will continue to emphasise the importance of predictable international public finance, particularly for adaptation and addressing loss and damage.
The country will also seek stronger international cooperation on affordable climate technologies, technical expertise and institutional capacity-building.
Access to appropriate technologies will be particularly important for renewable energy, climate-resilient agriculture, industrial decarbonisation, water management and disaster preparedness.
Nature-based solutions and inclusive climate action
Bangladesh will advocate increased international support for conserving forests, mangroves, wetlands and biodiversity as part of broader climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.
The government will promote nature-based solutions that strengthen ecosystem resilience while supporting local livelihoods and sustainable resource management.
Such approaches are particularly relevant to Bangladesh, where mangrove forests, wetlands and river systems provide important protection against climate hazards and support millions of people.
The country will also emphasise inclusive climate governance and meaningful participation by women, children, young people, persons with disabilities and marginalised communities.
Bangladesh will seek improved access to climate finance for women-led and locally led initiatives, recognising the importance of community participation in designing and implementing effective climate responses.
The government will stress that climate policies must reflect the needs and experiences of vulnerable populations rather than rely solely on centrally designed interventions.
Trade concerns and industrial competitiveness
Bangladesh will also raise concerns over climate-related international trade measures that could affect the exports, employment and competitiveness of developing economies.
The government will seek cooperation to ensure that environmental trade policies do not create disproportionate disadvantages for countries with limited financial and technological capacity.
Dhaka will advocate assistance for industries to adopt cleaner technologies, improve energy efficiency and meet evolving international environmental standards.
The country will emphasise that the transition towards environmentally sustainable production should be supported through finance, technology transfer and capacity-building rather than measures that could undermine development opportunities.
Bangladesh’s position will reflect the need to balance global climate objectives with economic development, employment generation and poverty reduction.
Bangladesh Pavilion to showcase national initiatives
Bangladesh will establish a 100-square-metre pavilion at the COP31 conference venue to showcase its climate vulnerabilities, adaptation experiences and national climate priorities.
The pavilion will highlight the country’s updated nationally determined contribution, known as NDC 3.0, along with the National Adaptation Plan and initiatives addressing climate-induced loss and damage.
Other areas of focus will include climate finance, renewable energy, carbon markets, nature-based solutions and technological innovations supporting climate resilience.
The pavilion will serve as a platform for policy discussions, knowledge exchange and engagement with international development partners, research institutions and potential investors.
Bangladesh also intends to highlight locally developed adaptation solutions and community experiences to demonstrate how vulnerable populations are responding to climate-related challenges.
The government hopes the pavilion will create opportunities for new partnerships, technical cooperation and investment aligned with national climate priorities.
Equity to guide Bangladesh’s position
Mintoo said Bangladesh’s negotiating position would be guided by equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, a foundational principle of international climate cooperation.
Under this principle, countries share responsibility for addressing climate change, but their obligations differ according to historical circumstances, national capabilities and development needs.
Bangladesh will emphasise that developed countries must fulfil their international commitments while supporting vulnerable developing nations in implementing climate action.
The government will also seek stronger coordination between international climate decisions and domestic development priorities.
The minister said Bangladesh expected COP31 to deliver concrete progress in climate finance, adaptation and implementation support.
He expressed hope that decisions taken at the conference would contribute to protecting the lives and livelihoods of people facing worsening climate impacts.
Focus on implementation
COP31 is taking place at a critical juncture for international climate cooperation, with countries facing growing pressure to turn existing commitments into measurable action.
The conference will be hosted by Türkiye, while Australia will chair the negotiations under the agreed organisational arrangement.
Discussions are expected to focus on accelerating implementation of the Paris Agreement, strengthening adaptation, mobilising climate finance and supporting a fair transition towards cleaner energy systems.
For Bangladesh, the central challenge will be securing international commitments that respond to the scale of climate risks facing vulnerable countries.
The government will seek to ensure that financial pledges translate into accessible resources, national climate plans receive adequate implementation support and climate-vulnerable communities benefit directly from international cooperation.
With Prime Minister Tarique Rahman preparing to present the country’s position at the World Leaders’ Summit on November 11–12, Bangladesh will seek to place climate justice, grant-based financing and the protection of vulnerable communities at the centre of discussions in Antalya.
For one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, the success of COP31 will ultimately depend not merely on new declarations but on whether global commitments deliver meaningful financial support and practical solutions for people already living with the consequences of climate change.
