Bangladesh is pressing for faster progress on adaptation finance, loss and damage funding and global financial reform as climate-vulnerable countries prepare for COP31.
Bangladesh has called for stronger global action on climate justice and adequate, accessible adaptation finance for vulnerable countries as world leaders gather at the United Nations ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.
Dr Saimum Parvez, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Affairs and a member of the Bangladesh delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81), made the call while addressing the Fourth Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Leaders Meeting on Development Reset and Cooperation in New York.
Bangladesh outlines priorities
“Climate change is not tomorrow’s headline; it is today’s struggle of existence,” Dr Parvez said, highlighting the immediate consequences of the climate crisis for vulnerable countries.
Held on the sidelines of UNGA81, the meeting was chaired by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, and brought together heads of state and government, ministers and senior officials from climate-vulnerable economies, development finance institutions and international partners.
Dr Parvez used the forum to outline several priorities for countries on the frontlines of climate change. He called for progress on the Vulnerability to Viability (V2V) Compact and effective implementation of the Lifeline Fund, alongside swift and accessible financing from the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, widely known as the Loss and Damage Fund.
He also called for reform of the global financial architecture to make international finance more responsive to the needs of climate-vulnerable economies. He stressed that international commitments must translate into finance and practical support that can reach communities and strengthen resilience.
“When the vulnerable speak together, the world cannot look away,” Dr Parvez said.
World leaders discuss climate action, just transition
The CVF meeting took place amid wider high-level climate diplomacy at UNGA81, including the UN’s High-level Event on Climate Action and the Just Transition convened by Secretary-General António Guterres.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was scheduled to attend the high-level event as part of his engagements at UNGA81.
The gathering brought together leaders from developed and developing economies, climate-vulnerable countries and major energy producers and consumers. Discussions focused on accelerating the transition towards renewable energy, mobilising affordable finance and investment for developing countries and strengthening adaptation and resilience.
Just transition has also become an important part of the international climate agenda as governments consider how the shift towards low-carbon economies can protect workers, livelihoods and communities while creating opportunities in emerging low-carbon sectors.
For vulnerable developing countries, the discussions have placed renewed attention on implementation and whether international climate commitments can be translated into resources and support on the ground.
Guterres makes final climate push
The climate discussions at UNGA81 come during the closing months of Guterres’s tenure as UN secretary-general as he makes a final push for stronger international climate action before leaving office.
Climate change has been a major focus of his leadership at the United Nations, with Guterres repeatedly calling for faster emissions reductions, accelerated deployment of renewable energy and greater financial support for developing countries.
Ahead of the New York climate gathering, he again criticised fossil fuel interests, accusing “Big Oil” of profiting while treating the atmosphere like an “open sewer.”
His push comes amid growing concern over temporarily exceeding the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold, while climate-related disasters continue to impose mounting human and economic costs.
The UN chief has used the high-level discussions to press governments to accelerate climate action while strengthening support for countries and communities already confronting severe impacts.
COP31 in focus
The New York discussions come less than two months before COP31, scheduled to take place in Antalya from November 9 to 20.
Türkiye will host the conference and hold the COP31 presidency, while Australia will lead the formal negotiations through its President of Negotiations under the arrangements for the summit.
The road from New York to Antalya is expected to put further attention on adaptation, climate finance, loss and damage, just transition and implementation of existing climate commitments.
For Bangladesh and other climate-vulnerable countries, a central issue will be whether the international climate framework can address immediate development needs while enabling countries to prepare for increasingly severe climate impacts.
Looking ahead to COP31, Bangladesh stressed that vulnerable countries should not be forced to choose between essential development priorities and investing in the climate resilience needed to protect their people, livelihoods and economies.
