Dhaka pushes for grant-based climate finance, green jobs at COP31

Bangladesh aims to take a leading role in advancing the interests of climate-vulnerable countries at the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), rather than limiting its efforts to highlighting its own climate challenges, said Dr Saimum Parvez, the prime minister's special assistant for environment, forests and climate change.

Bangladesh is pressing for increased funding for climate adaptation, mitigation and loss and damage, despite contributing only a small share of global carbon emissions while facing significant climate-related losses, Parvez, who is also deputy head of the country's COP31 delegation, told reporters at the conference.

He said climate finance should be provided as grants rather than loans, arguing that it would be unfair to impose additional debt burdens on countries that bear little responsibility for climate change.

Bangladesh is coordinating with the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group and regional partners through Bangladesh-Bhutan-Nepal cooperation to advance the collective demands of climate-vulnerable nations, he said.

Parvez described the prime minister's participation in COP31 as an important reflection of Bangladesh's environmental and climate commitments. One of the country's key priorities at the conference is ensuring a just energy transition, he said.

The government aims to shift from a fossil fuel-dependent economy towards renewable energy while protecting existing jobs and creating new employment opportunities in green industries.

Over the next five years, the government plans to plant 25 crore trees and excavate or re-excavate 20,000 kilometres of canals to strengthen environmental protection and climate resilience, Parvez said. Other priorities include renewable energy, waste management, methane emission reductions and the development of environmentally friendly industries.

Bangladesh has made progress in disaster preparedness through early warning systems for cyclones and floods, volunteer networks, salt-tolerant crops and floating agriculture, he said. These initiatives could serve as examples for other climate-vulnerable countries.

The delegation is also seeking to expand international markets for jute and biodegradable products as alternatives to plastic. During a meeting with Türkiye's first lady, Bangladesh proposed expanding the global reach of these products, with discussions yielding a positive response and potential opportunities for technical cooperation, Parvez said.

Bangladesh is also considering setting up a pavilion to showcase and promote such products.

On carbon markets, he said work was progressing on a national policy framework and the establishment of a carbon registry. These initiatives are expected to create new opportunities for Bangladesh to access climate finance through international carbon markets.

Bangladesh wants to position itself not only as a country affected by climate change but also as a climate-resilient, innovation-driven nation with economic potential, Parvez said.

He expressed hope that the prime minister's leadership and the delegation's diplomatic efforts at COP31 would strengthen Bangladesh's push for equitable climate finance, grant-based assistance, green employment and the collective interests of climate-vulnerable nations.

Editorial note: I have retained the original claims, figures and attributions. The headline foregrounds Bangladesh's diplomatic ambition, while the opening paragraphs establish the central issue of climate finance. I have also consolidated repetitive references to the country's climate priorities without removing substantive details.