COP29: Stories journos should cover focusing on Bangladesh

As the curtain of COP 29 will set to be raised in Baku, Azerbaijan on Monday, all eyes are on the global climate conference held annually. 

As they do the participants, especially those from the countries affected most by climate change, will negotiate for their demands at the conference. 

Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, with millions of coastal people suffering immensely for years. It is estimated that Bangladesh may see 13 million internal climate migrants by 2050.

Ahead of COP29, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, “It’s time that developed nations uphold their commitments to support the most affected countries.” 

A Swiss Embassy project ranked Bangladesh as the seventh most vulnerable country in the world to the effects of climate change and fifth in the world in terms of losses incurred due to climate change. It also noted that 90 million people live in “high climate exposure risk areas” along with 53 million people experiencing “very high” exposure. It was further revealed that Bangladesh lost $3.72 billion over 20 years due to climate change.

Here are some key issues journalists should follow about Bangladesh during the conference:

Loss and Damage Fund:

Journalists should keep an eye how the newly established Loss and Damage Fund will benefit Bangladesh. It needs to focus on the fund’s operationalisation and whether or not it will be sufficient to address Bangladesh’s needs. 

At COP27 in Egypt, an agreement was reached to create a fund that will help low-income developing countries offset the damage from natural disasters caused by climate change. 

Dubbed the “Loss and Damage Fund,” this financial mechanism was designed to provide crucial support to vulnerable nations facing the brunt of climate-related challenges. To facilitate the implementation of the fund and related climate finance mechanisms, a Transitional Committee was formed, comprised of representatives from 24 nations encompassing both developed and developing countries.  

The topic of climate finance for developing countries became one of the priorities on the agenda of COP28 in Dubai, UAE. During the inaugural plenary session on the conference’s first day, the participants made a historic decision to create a dedicated fund aimed at addressing and compensating for the losses and damages incurred due to climate change. 

The poster child for climate change ranking the seventh on the Global Climate Risk Index 2021, Bangladesh’s southern regions that lies along the coastal belt, is highly susceptible to various rapid-onset hazards including cyclones, coastal erosion, and seasonal flooding.

This fund is designed to support vulnerable countries like Bangladesh dealing with the impacts of climate change that surpass human adaptability, such as loss of livelihood due to rising sea levels and salinity intrusion or loss of lives, homes, and other infrastructure due to extreme floods and cyclones.

Following the announcement of the fund in 2022, several developed countries pledged more than $420 million in voluntary contributions at the annual event as yet. To date, total commitments have already amounted to $661 million.

Climate finance:

Bangladesh requires significant financial support to adapt to climate change and implement mitigation measures. 

Journalists should follow Bangladesh’s demands for increased climate finance and whether developed countries are fulfilling their commitments. They should also work on how climate finance is being utilised in Bangladesh and its effectiveness.

There are diverse intermediaries, instruments and planning systems in Bangladesh’s financial landscape over climate issues. Although they all play a role in mobilising and channelling resources to climate-related investments, their disbursement is fragmented. 

From 2009 to 2013, Bangladesh needed $5 billion of investment in climate-related initiatives — but only leveraged $1 billion. In order to minimise this deficit and maximise opportunities, it needs to establish local financial intermediaries to complement existing intermediaries, use innovative economic and financial instruments and use financial planning systems to ensure better synergy across the financial landscape.

Climate justice:

Journalists should also give importance to Bangladesh’s call for climate justice and its efforts to hold major carbon emitters countries including China and the US accountable. They can highlight the voices of climate migrants and vulnerable communities affected by climate change in Bangladesh.

Climate justice is described as encompassing “a set of rights and obligations, which corporations, individuals and governments have towards vulnerable people who will be disproportionately affected by climate change”.

The interim government, too, is pushing hard for this. 

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan in mid-October said Bangladesh seeks climate justice since it suffers from the impacts of climate change.

“Bangladesh suffers from the impacts of climate change although it is one of the least responsible countries for climate change,” he said.

Regarding climate change support, she said when the country expects more financial support from developed nations, it has received very little.

How much funding would be required to protect coastal districts and small island nations, she questioned.

Adaptation and resilience:

Bangladesh needs to build resilience to climate change impacts, such as sea-level rise and extreme weather events – something journalists should focus on. 

While keeping in mind whether or not the resilience measures are adequate to protect vulnerable communities, the journalist can also consider planning stories by highlighting successful adaptation projects. 

In fact, there are some exemplary projects or initiatives across the country that deserves better media coverage.

Years of exposure to the negative effects of climate change has required Bangladesh’s population to be both adaptive and resilient. Climate adaptation and mitigation is a big priority for both the government of Bangladesh and civil society, and there are many successful examples of government-driven and community-based adaptation initiatives, often supported by international partners.

Nature-based solutions, renewable energy tech:

Bangladesh has significant potential for nature-based solutions to climate change, such as mangrove restoration and sustainable agriculture. Journalists should report on Bangladesh’s efforts to promote nature-based solutions and their impact on climate mitigation and adaptation. 

Renewable energy technology in Bangladesh has a promising future, with the previous government eyeing to fulfill 40% of the demand from clean energy sources by 2041.  

Journalists can focus on the active exploration and implementation of renewable energy technologies to address its growing energy needs and reduce its carbon footprint. 

Solar and wind are proven as high-potential renewable energy sources for the country. There are varying estimates of potential solar power generation, but setting up solar panels in industrial rooftops and fallow and unused land could enable us to generate more than 20,000 MW of solar power without harming agricultural production. Moreover, after years, Bangladesh has finally started to build wind energy plants. Bangladesh has also started a feasibility study for exploring the potential of offshore wind energy. The demonstration of success with the initial wind projects could open the door for considerable expansion of wind energy capacity.  

Youth engagement and gender issue:

Journalists should report on the role of youth in advocating for climate action and their participation in COP29. There are many success and inspiring stories throughout the country. The young climate advocates — many of them as young as teens – have vocal on the global issue. Other than in their own localities and educational institutes, they are campaigning in the vulnerable districts both in person and online.  

Some of them have already reached the global stage. 

Also, the journalists may focus on the gender dimensions of climate change in Bangladesh and how women are contributing to climate solutions.

Climate change is not gender-neutral. Women are generally more vulnerable, representing the majority of the Bangladesh’s poor. They are also more dependent for their livelihood on natural resources that are threatened by climate change.

Along the southwestern coast of the country, there are harrowing tales of countless girls and women are suffering from multiple climate-driven severe health issues, with many losing their uteruses.   

So, their stories of sufferings must be a priority.