Bangladesh seeks faster climate finance at COP31, says annual needs reach $11bn

Bangladesh has called for faster delivery of international climate finance, saying it needs $10 billion to $11 billion annually to tackle climate change, while spending around $4.5 billion to $5 billion a year from its domestic budget on climate-related initiatives.

The call came at a press briefing by the Bangladesh delegation today (13 November), the fifth day of formal negotiations at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The briefing was addressed by Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo; State Minister Shaikh Faridul Islam; Foreign Affairs State Minister Shama Obaed Islam; and Mansura Akter, MP for reserved Women’s Seat 26. Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, an additional secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was also present. Dharitri Kumar Sarkar, a joint secretary in the ministry’s Climate Change Wing, moderated the session.

Responding to questions about international financing commitments and how funds could reach climate-vulnerable communities, Abdul Awal Mintoo said progress in pledging finance had outpaced its actual delivery.

The delegation called for simpler access to international funding for both climate adaptation and emissions reduction, while Shama Obaed Islam stressed that financial assistance should reach the communities most in need.

Asked by Carbon Brief about Bangladesh’s expectations from the climate finance work programme, a delegation representative called for greater clarity on who would provide the funding and how it would be distributed.

The representative also stressed the need to simplify access to climate finance, highlighting the particular vulnerability of communities displaced by river erosion.

Bangladesh seeks more grants and faster disbursement

In its written statement, the delegation identified several unresolved issues in international climate negotiations and outlined Bangladesh’s priorities for securing climate finance.

The Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group is seeking a threefold increase in adaptation finance to $120 billion annually before 2035. Bangladesh urged developed countries to fulfil their climate finance commitments and provide more grant-based assistance to help vulnerable nations implement their national adaptation plans.

The delegation also called for easier direct access to funding from the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility and the Adaptation Fund.

It backed an LDC proposal to establish a platform connecting national adaptation priorities with potential funders and development partners capable of supporting their implementation.

On the Global Goal on Adaptation, Bangladesh said the proposed Belém Adaptation Indicators should measure improvements in climate resilience without creating additional reporting burdens for developing countries. It also called for greater support for locally led adaptation initiatives.

The delegation expressed concern that the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage had insufficient resources to meet demand from submitted proposals.

It called for increased contributions, simplified direct access and faster disbursement, with funding covering both economic and non-economic losses caused by climate change.

The written statement also said Bangladesh was among the first five countries expected to receive $30 million each from the Climate Investment Funds. Coastal infrastructure and climate-resilient agriculture were identified as priority areas for the funding.

Journalists question outcomes for vulnerable communities

Responding to questions about what successive climate negotiations would deliver for vulnerable communities, a delegation representative said countries had made progress in recognising climate change as a shared challenge and developing action plans, although several initiatives were still awaiting implementation.

Another journalist asked whether the negotiations included a dedicated financing mechanism to protect children and support their education.

A delegation representative said they had not seen any specific financing demand dedicated exclusively to children, while pointing to ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare services.

The delegation’s written statement also raised concerns over unilateral climate-related trade measures, including the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), warning that such policies could disproportionately affect businesses, workers and exporters in developing countries.

Asked whether the issue should be reflected in a COP31 decision, a delegation representative said countries that had benefited from activities contributing to the climate crisis should also help those bearing its consequences.

The representative argued that climate-related trade measures should not create additional barriers that undermine developing countries’ efforts to strengthen their economies.

Bangladesh backs continued emissions-cutting efforts

The delegation said Bangladesh accounts for less than 0.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Under its updated national climate pledge, the country aims to reduce emissions by 6.39% below its business-as-usual projection by 2035, with a further reduction of 13.92% conditional on receiving international support.

Bangladesh also supported extending the Mitigation Work Programme through 2030, with sector-specific measures backed by adequate financing, technology transfer and training.

The delegation stressed the need for a just transition that prioritises least developed and other climate-vulnerable countries while ensuring decent employment, skills development and social protection for affected workers and communities.

It said Bangladesh would continue working with the LDC Group, the G77 and China, and other international partners during the second week of negotiations to secure decisions that translate climate finance commitments into tangible support for vulnerable communities.