As Bangladesh faces an escalating climate emergency, marked by frequent and devastating natural disasters, the need for urgent financial support has never been more critical
Civil society organisations (CSOs) from Bangladesh have made an urgent call for substantial climate finance at COP29, urging developed nations and high-emission countries to fulfill their financial commitments in tackling the climate crisis.
Bangladesh’s CSOs have demanded $1.5 trillion in climate finance for the period 2025-2030 to support the survival of the most vulnerable nations, who are bearing the brunt of global climate change.
As Bangladesh faces an escalating climate emergency, marked by frequent and devastating natural disasters, the need for urgent financial support has never been more critical. The country has seen a sharp rise in extreme weather events, such as cyclones, floods, and tidal surges, which have displaced millions and caused significant economic losses.
To address this, CSOs have called for a clear framework on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on finance based on the principles of equity and justice as outlined in Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement. They further urged developed nations not to leave the COP29 conference without making concrete and measurable financial commitments to assist climate-vulnerable countries.
Dr. Manzurul Hannan Khan, executive director of Nature Conservation Management (NACOM), addressed a press conference on Friday at COP29 in Baku, highlighting the severe impacts of climate-induced displacement and economic losses in Bangladesh.
According to Dr. Khan, from 2014 to 2023, nearly 15 million people in coastal regions were displaced due to extreme weather events. These events are intensifying, and the need for substantial financial aid from developed nations has become more urgent than ever.
“Bangladesh is on the frontline of the climate crisis,” Dr. Khan stressed. “The financial aid promised by wealthy nations has been insufficient to address the devastation we face. The time for delays is over.”
The recent catastrophic floods of August 2024, which displaced millions and caused an estimated $5 billion in damages, serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of Bangladesh. This disaster follows a troubling pattern of recurring floods, such as the 2004 floods that displaced 36 million people and the 2022 floods that affected over 7 million and caused $1 billion in damages. As climate change accelerates, Bangladesh’s vulnerability continues to deepen.
Experts from Bangladesh, including Professor Ainun Nishat and Roufa Khanum from the Center for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) at BRAC University, and Professor Saiful Islam from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), joined Dr. Khan in emphasising the urgency of addressing climate change.
They discussed ongoing threats such as rising sea levels, droughts, salinity intrusion, and river erosion, all of which exacerbate the country’s social and economic vulnerabilities. These environmental changes have contributed to a growing public health crisis, including waterborne diseases, mental health challenges, and the disruption of education for millions of children.
“Climate change is not a future threat; it is a present reality,” warned Dr. Nishat. “If the global community does not act swiftly and fulfill its promises, these challenges will soon spread beyond Bangladesh to other nations.”
Amid ongoing discussions on the NCQG for climate finance at COP29, Bangladesh’s CSO leaders have called for a commitment to a $1 trillion per year climate finance goal. This fund would support developing nations in mitigating and adapting to climate change, as well as addressing the loss and damage caused by climate-induced disasters.
However, financial promises made by developed countries remain largely unfulfilled, leaving vulnerable nations like Bangladesh to carry the heavy burden of the global climate crisis.
Youth climate activist SM Shahin Alam, from YouthNet Global, also took the stage at the press conference, advocating for increased support for youth-led initiatives. Alam emphasized the critical role of young people in creating innovative, grassroots solutions to climate change, particularly in flood-prone areas.
He stressed the importance of empowering young people with the resources they need to lead climate action efforts.
“Young people bear a disproportionate burden of climate change – they will live with it longest and have the greatest stake in changing the trajectory of a planet struggling with environmental degradation,” Alam stated.
“But we are on the frontline of responding to climate disasters. We need a dramatic increase in climate financing for young people. We need the international community to support youth-led solutions to protect our communities and our planet.”
As COP29 enters its final stages, Bangladesh’s civil society leaders remain resolute in their demand for urgent and substantial climate finance. They stress that failure to meet these financial commitments will have dire consequences, not just for Bangladesh, but for vulnerable nations around the world.
The response from the international community to this call will be crucial in determining whether global cooperation can effectively address the escalating climate crisis that threatens the livelihoods and futures of millions.
