Staff Reporter :
Climate activists, development experts, and civil society representatives have expressed grave concern over the climate allocation in the proposed national budget for FY 2025-26, calling it unacceptable, inadequate, and unjust.
They warned that the government’s allocation of only 0.67% of GDP to climate finance undermines the country’s sustainable development goals and ignores the growing climate vulnerability, particularly in coastal regions.
The remarks came at a press conference titled “Climate Allocation in the National Budget 2025-26 and Civil Society Perspective,” organized at the Economic Reporters Forum in Dhaka by a coalition of organizations including EquityBD, BDCSO Process, COAST Foundation, Youth Action Network, Water Keepers Bangladesh, Sundarban Surakkha Andolon, SDI, Udayan, and Bangladesh Climate Journalist Forum. The session was moderated by Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Executive Director of COAST Foundation.
Chowdhury pointed to the increasing frequency of climate-induced disasters and the severe impacts on coastal communities.
He urged the government to reconsider its budgetary approach by increasing climate finance to a minimum of 3% of GDP, constructing stone-based embankments, building natural coastal barriers, and ensuring participatory governance and strategic investments focused on vulnerable populations.
Sharif Jamil, Chief Executive of Water Keepers Bangladesh, emphasized that climate change is a current crisis, not a distant threat.
He highlighted the need for comprehensive environmental management, including transboundary river governance involving neighboring countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan.
He called for environmental reassessment of mega projects and the adoption of wealth taxes and the Polluter Pays Principle.
He also urged the government to ratify the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention to align with global water governance frameworks.
Kawsar Rahman, President of the Bangladesh Climate Change Journalists Forum, criticized the budget for following an IMF-driven model that overlooks employment generation and self-reliance.
He condemned the proposed increase of VAT to 15%, saying it would disproportionately affect lower- and middle-income groups, and warned of financial instability in the banking sector due to excessive government borrowing.
Motahar Hossain from the Environmental Journalist Forum expressed concern over the poor implementation and monitoring of past climate funds. Mr. Nikhil Chandra Bhadra, Coordinator of the Sundarbans Protection Committee, criticised the postponement of key coastal projects, including a Tk 961 crore water preservation initiative in Bagerhat, Khulna, and Satkhira. He called for region-wise budget allocations prioritizing coastal vulnerability.
In his keynote presentation, MA Hasan, Head of Climate Change at COAST Foundation, said that socio-economic inequality contradicts the vision of a sustainable economy. He stated that although the total allocation to climate-related ministries is BDT 41,208.97 crore, this represents only 0.67% of GDP, far short of the estimated $19 billion annual requirement for climate action. He reiterated the call to raise climate finance allocation to at least 3% of GDP in the national budget.
