Why Bangladesh’s climate future depends on the ballot

Just transition can’t wait: ballot box matters for Bangladesh’s climate future

As elections near, Bangladesh faces a decisive moment where climate justice, Just Transition and inclusive development must shape political commitments to protect lives, livelihoods and future prosperity.

As Bangladesh approaches its next national elections, the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat. It is a daily reality. Rising seas, eroding rivers and increasingly extreme weather are reshaping lives, livelihoods and landscapes across the country. Families in Kurigram lose farmland to river erosion every year, displacing households that have lived there for generations. In Sylhet, floods submerge villages, destroying homes, crops and livestock. Coastal communities in Shyamnagar struggle with saltwater intrusion, making agriculture almost impossible. Embankments and coastal protections are under constant pressure, while safe drinking water is increasingly scarce. Women, children and marginalised groups are disproportionately affected, facing the harshest impacts of climate change with the fewest resources to adapt.

The climate crisis is also driving displacement and climate migration. Families are forced to leave ancestral homes and move to urban slums, often losing access to education and stable employment. Farmers and fisherfolk face chronic job losses as floods, salinization and river erosion destroy crops, ponds and livelihoods. The human and social costs are immense and the economic consequences reverberate across communities, threatening both stability and prosperity.

The upcoming elections present a historic opportunity for political leaders. Manifestos must prioritise Just Transition, a framework that ensures development is equitable, inclusive and forward-looking. Just Transition is not only an environmental or economic concept. It is about social justice, economic resilience and climate security. It guarantees that the shift to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy benefits everyone while protecting worker rights, creating youth skills programs and generating meaningful employment.

Implementing Just Transition in Bangladesh is challenging, but it is not a loss for the economy. It is an opportunity for sustainable prosperity. Our current development model, including many political agendas, has been largely nature-extractive, prioritizing short-term growth over ecological balance. The youth-led mass uprising of 2024 demonstrated that citizens, particularly young people, demand systemic change. This election must be a turning point, a chance to pivot toward inclusive, climate-resilient and opportunity-rich prosperity.

Just Transition ensures that the shift toward renewable energy, green jobs and climate-resilient development is accompanied by protections for workers and communities. Just industry transition requires phasing out high-emission sectors responsibly, retraining workers and supporting communities affected by economic shifts. Green jobs in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, water management and climate-resilient infrastructure create opportunities for youth, women and marginalised populations. Skill development and youth employment programs are essential for preparing the next generation to thrive in a green economy. Worker rights must be protected, including safe conditions, fair wages and representation in planning and decision-making.

Bangladesh has already demonstrated global leadership through its third Nationally Determined Contributions, NDC 3.0, submitted to the UNFCCC on 30 September. For the first time, it embeds Just Transition principles at the heart of the country’s climate strategy. NDC 3.0 commits to a shift toward low-carbon development that is socially inclusive, job-rich, gender-responsive and respectful of worker rights. It recognises that climate action must also address social equity, poverty alleviation and opportunities for youth.

This strategy maximises economic opportunities while carefully managing risks. Renewable energy projects, embankment upgrades, sustainable agriculture initiatives and coastal protections demonstrate that progress is possible when policy is guided by science and equity. Adaptation must be integrated with development, poverty alleviation, disaster resilience and protection against climate-induced displacement. For Bangladesh, reducing carbon emissions alone is insufficient. True justice lies in enhancing communities’ capacity to cope with floods, cyclones, river erosion and saltwater intrusion. This includes safeguarding drinking water, maintaining embankments and reinforcing coastal protections. No one should be left behind.

The international community is also recognising the importance of Just Transition. The COP30 climate talks led to the creation of the Belém Action Mechanism for Just Transition, a milestone for workers and trade unions worldwide. The mechanism safeguards labor rights and ensures that workers are actively involved in shaping the shift to sustainable economies. For Bangladesh, it aligns closely with NDC 3.0, offering frameworks that trade unions, youth organizations and civil society can leverage to secure safe, green and dignified employment.

The human impacts of climate change in Bangladesh highlight the urgency of Just Transition. Families displaced by the Brahmaputra in Kurigram often migrate to urban slums, losing livelihoods, homes and access to education. Floods destroy paddy fields and fish ponds in Sylhet. Coastal communities in Shyamnagar face saltwater intrusion that destroys crops and contaminates drinking water. Farmers and fisherfolk lose jobs and women bear disproportionate burdens, managing households under worsening conditions. A green and just transition can provide renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, resilient infrastructure and alternative livelihoods for displaced communities, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Political leaders must recognise that climate justice, social equity and economic transformation are inseparable. Just Transition in election manifestos is both a moral and political imperative. Citizens need to see clear political commitments, including:

• Phasing out high-emission industries responsibly while creating green jobs and reskilling workers
• Strengthening social protection systems for communities affected by climate-induced loss, damage, displacement and migration
• Investing in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, embankments and coastal protection to safeguard livelihoods, water security and communities
• Ensuring gender equity, youth engagement, worker rights, skill development and youth employment opportunities in climate-related sectors
• Institutionalizing social dialogue with trade unions, local communities and civil society in climate and economic planning
• Promoting adaptation, loss and damage financing and disaster resilience at national and local levels
• Prioritizing inclusive policies so that no one, including farmers, fisherfolk and marginalized groups, is left behind

Bangladesh has the vision, talent and resilience to turn climate challenges into opportunities for a fairer, greener and more prosperous society. By prioritising Just Transition, including just industry transition, green jobs, adaptation, loss and damage, climate migration, water security, coastal protection, worker rights and youth skills, political leaders can demonstrate that climate action is inclusive, economically empowering and globally responsible.

The next election is a chance to choose leaders who understand that climate justice, social equity and sustainable development are inseparable. Embedding Just Transition into party platforms is not just a policy choice. It is a promise of opportunity, dignity and hope for the future. Leaders who commit to this path will not only secure votes but also secure a future in which Bangladesh can thrive despite the climate crisis.

Bangladesh has already shown the world that it can lead on climate policy, workers’ rights, gender-responsive development, youth skill development and resilience planning. The question now is whether political leaders will rise to the occasion and turn global commitments like NDC 3.0 and the Belém Action Mechanism into real and tangible change for the people most affected by climate change.