ANTALYA, Türkiye, November 13, 2026: Bangladesh is set to receive US$30 million from the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) to strengthen climate resilience, particularly in coastal areas, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has announced at COP31.
The financing will support efforts to strengthen coastal infrastructure and expand climate-friendly agricultural activities. Bangladesh is among the first five countries selected for support under the CIF’s adaptation and resilience programme.
Mintoo made the announcement at a press briefing organised jointly by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Blue Zone of the UN Climate Change Conference in Antalya on Friday.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam, MP Mansura Akter and Additional Secretary Mohammad Navid Shafiullah were also present.
The minister said that although Bangladesh contributes less than 0.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, it remains highly vulnerable to climate change. Cyclones, floods, rising salinity and heatwaves are increasingly threatening livelihoods, agriculture, infrastructure and development gains.
Referring to World Meteorological Organization data, he said the global average temperature from January to September 2026 was around 1.47 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level.
Under its third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), Bangladesh aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6.39 percent through domestic efforts and a further 13.92 percent with international support by 2035, compared with the business-as-usual scenario. The government is pursuing renewable energy expansion, rooftop solar power, tree plantation, canal restoration, stronger early-warning systems and community-based adaptation to meet its climate commitments.
Mintoo called for developed countries to deliver their pledged climate finance and support the Least Developed Countries group’s demand to triple annual adaptation finance to US$120 billion before 2035. He also urged international climate funds, including the Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility and Adaptation Fund, to simplify access procedures and expand direct, grant-based financing for vulnerable countries.
On adaptation, he stressed the need to accelerate implementation of Bangladesh’s National Adaptation Plan and expand locally led initiatives. He also called for effective implementation of the Belém Adaptation Indicators and the Belém-Addis Vision, backed by international finance, technology transfer and capacity-building support.
Regarding climate-induced loss and damage, the minister said available resources under the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage remained inadequate compared with submitted project proposals. He called for increased contributions, simpler access procedures and faster disbursement to address both economic and non-economic losses.
He further stressed the need to maintain mitigation efforts beyond 2026 through 2030 to help limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, with adequate finance and technology support for developing countries.
Emphasising a just transition, Mintoo said the shift towards a climate-friendly economy and energy system must protect workers, farmers, women, young people, informal-sector employees and other vulnerable groups. Decent jobs, skills development, social protection and access to clean technologies are essential to ensuring an inclusive transition, he added.
Assessing the first four days of COP31 negotiations, the minister said discussions had advanced on several important issues, although final agreements remained pending on a number of matters. Bangladesh was working with the LDC Group, G77 and China, and other partner countries to secure an ambitious, equitable and balanced outcome.
He expressed hope that COP31 would deliver practical decisions on climate finance, adaptation, loss and damage, mitigation, technology transfer and just transition. He also thanked the government and people of Türkiye for hosting the conference and acknowledged Australia’s role in leading the negotiation process.
