At a Dhaka climate justice rally, experts and activists demand rich nations provide grants and compensation, not loans, warning delays in climate finance threaten Bangladesh and other vulnerable countries globally.
Environmental experts have called for accountability, compensation and fairness from rich countries responsible for climate change. They said wealthy nations should support climate-vulnerable countries through grants and compensation, not loans.
Speakers made the call on the opening day of the two-day Third Climate Justice Rally 2025 at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SBAU) in the capital on Saturday, December 13.
Organized by the citizen platform Dharitree Raksha Amara (Dhara), the rally was attended by about 2,000 people, including government representatives, international climate activists, researchers and representatives of climate-vulnerable communities.
Speakers said delays by rich countries in providing climate finance are putting billions of people in the world’s most vulnerable countries at risk of survival. They expressed concern that the gap between global commitments and real action is widening.
Inaugurating the rally, Sharmin S. Murshid, adviser to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs, stated that despite having the lowest share of global carbon emissions, Bangladesh is one of the most severely affected countries by climate change.
She said, “Bangladesh is one of the frontline countries of climate change. However, due to delays in action by countries in the Global North, poor countries are suffering the most.”
Referring to the debt of industrialized countries, she added, “We do not owe them, they owe us. Climate justice is now a matter of accountable and effective action.”
Speaking as the chief guest, Farida Akhtar, adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, said, “Climate change cannot be viewed as just a technical or economic problem. Climate justice means justice, sustainability and accountability.”
Criticizing the continued reliance on fossil fuels, she noted that there is still a significant shortfall in implementing various global commitments, including the Paris Climate Agreement. The Global North often imposes debt instead of justice.
The inaugural session was presided over by Dr. Mujibur Rahman Howlader, convener of the organizing committee and moderated by Dhara member secretary Sharif Jamil. Sanjeev Drong, general secretary of the Bangladesh Indigenous Forum, delivered the welcome address.
Sharif Jamil said, “For Bangladesh, which is surviving under the impact of climate change, climate justice is not just a demand for the sake of a demand; it is part of the country’s survival. If we cannot begin this justice from our own homes, we will not be able to establish the demand for justice at the global level. Through this gathering, we want to identify where injustice is happening and work together to restore justice.”
International representatives at the event also criticized the actions of rich countries on climate finance. Lidy Nacpil of the Philippines, coordinator of the Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development, called for a rapid transition away from fossil fuels and stronger global support for climate-vulnerable countries.
Asad Rehman, chief executive of Friends of the Earth, said it was unfair to blame poor countries for financing a crisis they did not cause. “Money is still flowing from the Global South to the Global North through loans and payments, resulting in trillions of dollars being lost from Southern countries every year. It is not only unfair but obscene to make those least responsible for this crisis pay the price. Rich countries must pay the price,” he said.
“The time to accept pollution as a price for development is over,” said Cynan Hutton, deputy regional program director at the Tara Climate Foundation. “Renewable energy is a viable and equitable alternative, and solar and battery-powered cities can build a more economically and socially sustainable future,” she said.
Participants at the rally said climate change is already having serious impacts on Bangladesh’s agriculture, fisheries, food security and livelihoods. They also expressed concern over river encroachment, mismanagement and biodiversity loss.
Speakers criticized the failure of COP29 to make progress on global climate finance and stressed the need for a rapid transition to renewable energy, along with strong policy dialogue to ensure a just transition.
Ahead of the conference, more than 1,000 local and international climate activists took part in a rally that started from the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University campus and ended at the conference venue via Agargaon. The rally demanded accountability from global polluters.
The second day of the rally on Sunday will feature thematic sessions, workshops and networking discussions. A Meet the Press is scheduled to be held at the university auditorium at 4 pm.
