Bangladesh seeks to unlock global climate finance through literacy, investment-ready projects

Bangladesh is intensifying efforts to unlock global climate finance by improving climate literacy, developing investment-ready projects, and strengthening partnerships with international financial institutions, as the country seeks to turn climate vulnerability into long-term resilience, experts said at a high-level policy dialogue in Dhaka yesterday (6 August).

They said the success of climate finance should not be measured only by the amount of funding mobilised, but also by whether resources are accessible, transparent, accountable, and directly benefit communities facing the impacts of climate change.

The event, titled "Building Bangladesh as a Trillion-Dollar Climate-Resilient Economy: Accelerating Climate Finance Mobilisation Through Strategic and Investment-Ready Climate Project Designs", was organised by the International Climate Finance Cell (ICFC) of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) under the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP), with technical support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Participants, including senior policymakers, international development partners, financial institutions, private sector representatives, academics, and civil society leaders, stressed that improving climate literacy across public institutions, financial organisations, and the private sector is essential to designing bankable projects capable of attracting international climate finance.

They noted that limited understanding of climate science, financing mechanisms, and project preparation continues to hinder Bangladesh's access to major global climate funds.

Addressing the programme as the chief guest, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Planning Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir connected Bangladesh's economic transformation ambitions with the responsibility of ensuring a safe and sustainable future for coming generations.

He urged stakeholders to align national development strategies with global commitments, including the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Titumir called for greater mobilisation of private capital and urged international climate funds to simplify procedures and respond more effectively to the needs of vulnerable developing countries.

In his keynote speech, ERD UN Wing Chief AKM Sohel said climate literacy is the vital connection between climate realities and financial feasibility.

He highlighted the importance of developing strategic approaches that help stakeholders design projects capable of meeting the requirements of international climate finance mechanisms, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

Delivering the keynote address, ERD Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky acknowledged that Bangladesh has historically faced challenges in securing adequate international climate finance despite being among the countries most affected by climate change.

He stressed the need for stronger national ownership, improved institutional capacity, innovative financing approaches, and greater engagement with the private sector to mobilise climate investment at scale.

ADB Country Director Qingfeng Zhang reaffirmed the development bank's continued partnership with Bangladesh, emphasising the importance of creating scalable and financially viable climate projects that can attract global resources.

He said climate finance success depends not only on available funding but also on the ability to design projects that deliver measurable development and resilience outcomes.

The dialogue also featured discussions involving Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Affairs Dr Saimum Parvez, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, and UN Resident Coordinator ad interim Carol Flore-Smereczniak, alongside senior representatives from government agencies, international organisations, and development partners.

Carol Flore-Smereczniak said climate finance is not only about infrastructure or technology. "It is about livelihoods, dignity, resilience, and the ability of communities to remain safe in the face of climate stress."

Two panel discussions examined ways to strengthen Bangladesh's climate finance ecosystem. The first focused on improving climate literacy to support strategic and investment-ready project design, while the second explored practical approaches to developing high-impact concept notes capable of securing GCF financing.

Experts also underscored the importance of a just transition, saying climate investments must protect livelihoods, generate green jobs, and ensure that workers, women, young people, and vulnerable communities are not left behind in the shift towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy.

The dialogue concluded with a renewed commitment from government, development partners, and climate stakeholders to strengthen climate governance, expand access to global climate finance, and accelerate investments that deliver long-term resilience and sustainable development.

Participants said Bangladesh's experience demonstrates how climate-vulnerable countries can combine local knowledge, institutional innovation, and inclusive governance to build a more equitable and effective climate finance system.