Staff Reporter :
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Wednesday said reforms in climate finance must prioritise community needs, institutional capacity, and transparency, addressing the consultation workshop titled “National Climate Finance Strategy Formulation for Bangladesh,” held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.
“Bangladesh cannot afford a system where process outweighs outcomes. We need faster delivery, stronger planning, better coordination with international partners, and a funding framework that protects vulnerable citizens,” she said, expressing hope for an actionable national strategy emerging from the consultation.
The workshop brought together senior government officials, development partners, and climate finance experts, including AKM Sohel, Additional Secretary and UN Wing Chief, Economic Relations Division and Nayoka Martinez Bäckström, First Secretary (Environment and Climate Change) and Deputy Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden to identify financial pathways needed to address Bangladesh’s increasing climate vulnerabilities.
Speaking as the chief guest, Rizwana recalled that the global climate financing commitment emerged from the principle of “new and additional” support from historically responsible and technologically advanced economies.
“Over the years, these commitments have been diluted. Many countries most responsible for climate crises still deny established science. That denial makes climate finance more complex and profoundly unjust,” she said.
She also pointed out that while a few countries continue to uphold their commitments, others use climate narratives selectively.
At the national level, the climate change adviser highlighted disproportionate budget allocation patterns.
“Every year, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change receives the lowest allocation, while mega-infrastructure projects receive priority.
Adaptation, waste management, and community-level resilience remain underfunded,” she stated.
Rizwana further regretted that Bangladesh has not yet established a functioning national waste management system even after 54 years of independence.
“We cannot claim adaptation readiness while ignoring foundational weaknesses,” she added.
The adviser said institutional strengthening must precede greater financial inflow.
“Money alone is not enough. Agencies must have planning capacity, competent teams, and efficient mechanisms.
Even awareness material takes months due to procedural delays. If processes become the objective, outcomes will inevitably suffer,” she remarked.
She urged the Ministry of Finance to simplify procedural layers while ensuring transparency.
Referring to new institutional arrangements, she highlighted the role of the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP), supported by Sweden, UNDP, AFD and others.
“BCDP must emerge as the central coordination platform. With working groups on domestic finance, international finance, project development, and monitoring, it must set strategic direction,” she said.
Rizwana emphasised the need for adequate technological resources, skilled manpower, and dedicated workspace for the Secretariat of BCDP.
