Bangladesh to receive $30m to strengthen climate resilience: Mintoo

Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Abdul Awal Mintoo has said Bangladesh will receive US$30 million from the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) to strengthen climate resilience, particularly in coastal areas.

The fund will be used to address the adverse impacts of climate change, strengthen coastal infrastructure and expand climate-friendly agricultural activities. Bangladesh is among five countries initially considered for the financing.

The minister made the remarks at a press briefing organised for the Bangladesh delegation at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey, today.

The briefing was held at 3pm local time at Press Conference Room-1 in Zone D-3 of the conference's Blue Zone. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly organised the event, according to a press release.

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 present.

Abdul Awal Mintoo said Bangladesh contributes less than 0.5 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions but remains highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Cyclones, floods, rising salinity and heatwaves are increasingly threatening people's livelihoods, agriculture, infrastructure and the country's development achievements, he added.

Referring to updated 2026 data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the minister said the global average temperature from January to September this year was around 1.47 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level.

Despite limited resources, Bangladesh has taken ambitious initiatives to address climate change, he said.

Under the country's third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), Bangladesh has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 6.39 percent through its own efforts and an additional 13.92 percent with international support by 2035, compared to the business-as-usual scenario.

To achieve these targets, the government is promoting renewable energy, rooftop solar power generation, tree plantation, canal restoration, stronger early warning systems and community-based adaptation initiatives, he added.