BIMSTEC environment officials meeting in Thimphu advanced climate cooperation, finalized key frameworks and stressed climate finance, adaptation and regional coordination to address shared environmental risks across South and Southeast Asia.
Amid rising climate risks across South and Southeast Asia, the 4th Meeting of the BIMSTEC Joint Working Group on Environment and Climate Change (JWG-ECC) concluded in Thimphu on January 15–16, reinforcing the regional bloc’s commitment to collective action on environmental protection and climate resilience.
Senior officials from all BIMSTEC member states, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand along with representatives of the BIMSTEC Secretariat, attended the two-day meeting. Delegates emphasized that the decisions taken would guide concrete actions in the coming months, including follow-up coordination among member states and alignment with global climate processes.
The meeting finalized the Terms of Reference of the JWG-ECC, establishing a clearer institutional framework to guide coordinated regional efforts. Delegates also reviewed progress under the Action Matrix of the BIMSTEC Plan of Action on Environment and Climate Change, taking stock of ongoing initiatives and identifying priority areas for accelerated implementation.
A major focus of the discussions was climate finance. Officials explored practical options to mobilize international and regional climate funds. They discussed pathways for transparent and equitable distribution, particularly for climate-vulnerable countries in the Himalayan region and the Bay of Bengal basin. Delegates agreed that improved access to finance is critical for adaptation, mitigation and loss and damage response across BIMSTEC member states.
Participants also examined new initiatives to strengthen cooperation in the Environment and Climate Change Sector, led by Bhutan. Emphasis was placed on enhancing technical collaboration, knowledge sharing, and joint programs on climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and ecosystem conservation. Officials noted that closer regional coordination would help address transboundary environmental challenges more effectively.
The Bangladesh delegation was led by S M Mahbubul Alam, Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bangladesh highlighted the importance of regional cooperation for climate adaptation, early warning systems and resilience-building, reflecting the country’s priorities as one of the world’s most climate-exposed nations.
Experts observed that Bangladesh’s active participation and the meeting’s outcomes could contribute significantly to environmental protection and sustainable development across the BIMSTEC region, thereby strengthening the grouping’s role as a platform for regional climate leadership.
