Experts at a Pre-COP30 dialogue in Dhaka urged scaling up finance for wetlands restoration, framing them as natural infrastructure vital for climate resilience. Youth leaders stressed locally led adaptation, while panelists highlighted green bonds, debt-for-nature swaps, and justice-centered approaches.
Experts, policymakers, bankers and youth leaders have called for urgent scaling up of climate finance to restore wetlands, positioning them as a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s climate strategy ahead of the 30th UN climate summit (COP30) in Belém, Brazil.
The Pre-COP30 dialogue, “Financing Nature: Wetlands as Climate Solutions,” was organized on Sunday by YouthNet Global under the ReWET Consortium, part of the UK-funded Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia (REDAA) program. The event brought together government officials, international partners, academics and community representatives to spotlight wetlands as climate-critical infrastructure that supports resilience, livelihoods, and sustainable urban development.
Chairing the session, AKM Sohel, Additional Secretary and UN Wing Chief at the Ministry of Finance’s International Climate Finance Cell, said nature must be at the heart of Bangladesh’s climate strategy ahead of COP30 in Belém. “Funds like the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, concessional loans, and green bonds should be explored to finance wetlands,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Suborna Barua, Professor of Finance at the University of Dhaka, urged policymakers to recognize wetlands as natural infrastructure with measurable financial returns. “If we frame wetland restoration in terms of economic value and risk mitigation, it will be easier to mobilize both public and private investments,” she said.
Youth voices were prominent throughout the dialogue. Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global, said, “Our youth and community leaders are proving that climate solutions must be people-led. COP30 is an opportunity for Bangladesh to show the world that investing in wetlands means investing in our shared future.”
A panel discussion on “Unlocking Climate Finance for Wetlands” explored how Bangladesh could reform financial systems to support wetlands restoration. The session was moderated by Farah Anzum of GSCC and co-chaired by Chowdhury Liakat Ali, Director of the Sustainable Finance Division at Bangladesh Bank. Panelists emphasized that while $384 billion is required globally for nature-based solutions, Bangladesh still lacks a national biodiversity finance framework. They discussed green bonds, debt-for-nature swaps, and a TNFD-styled taskforce on nature-related financial disclosures as key options.
Dr. Mohammad Emran Hasan, Head of Climate Justice and Natural Resource Rights at Oxfam Bangladesh, said, “Bangladesh has practiced nature-based solutions since 1961, such as mangrove restoration. Finance must prioritize vulnerable communities and adopt a justice-centered approach.”
Tashmeem Muntazir Chowdhury, Head of ESG & Sustainable Finance Division at BRAC Bank Limited, stressed the role of the banking sector, saying, “To scale nature finance, we need green bonds, supportive policies, and stronger governance in the banking sector.”
Dr. Haseeb M. Irfanullah, Independent Consultant on Environment, Climate Change, & Research System, argued that, “Nature finance must move beyond the mitigation frame and adopt a justice lens, rather than focusing only on adaptation or loss and damage.”
Chowdhury Liakat Ali highlighted ongoing sustainable finance initiatives and encouraged private banks to increase investments in nature-based solutions.
Closing remarks reflected strong international support. ASM Marjan Nur from the British High Commission said, “Bangladesh is showing global leadership in locally led adaptation.” Nayoka Martinez-Bäckström from the Embassy of Sweden added, “Investing in wetlands not only strengthens resilience but also contributes to global climate goals.” Other closing speakers included Dr. Felix Gerdes (FES Bangladesh), Julien Deur (French Embassy), and Jannis Hussain (German Embassy).
From the academic perspective, Dr. Tanzil Shafique, Architect and Researcher at the University of Sheffield, said wetlands should be part of social and urban infrastructure, connecting people, nature, and justice. Sifullah Khaled, Assistant Professor at Sheffield Hallam University, underscored the urgency of mobilizing wetlands finance as part of Bangladesh’s broader climate strategy.
The dialogue concluded with three outcomes: the launch of a COP30 Policy Brief on Nature Finance, advocacy for a Dhaka Wetland Restoration Trust Fund, and strengthening coalitions linking communities, youth, government, and financial institutions.
As COP30 approaches, participants agreed that wetlands must not be treated as peripheral ecosystems but recognized as climate-critical infrastructure. Without unlocking finance for wetlands, they warned, Bangladesh risks losing vital ecological buffers and its chance to lead globally on nature-based climate solutions.
