State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has called for predictable, accessible and cost-free financing for gender-responsive climate adaptation and resilience. She made the call while speaking at an event titled "Policy to Practice: Strengthening Gender-responsive Climate Governance and Finance in Bangladesh" at the Bangladesh Pavilion in the Blue Zone of the UN climate conference.

Gender-focused climate finance

In her address, Shama Obaed Islam stressed the need to prioritize women's roles and needs in climate adaptation efforts. She argued that financing must be accessible and unconditional to ensure meaningful participation of women in climate resilience programs. She noted that the current financing structure, laden with debt burdens, places additional pressure on developing nations and undermines the core objectives of climate action.

Prime Minister's five-point proposal

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has outlined five concrete actions to overhaul the global climate finance architecture, emphasizing that climate-vulnerable nations require grants, not debt-inducing loans. He delivered an overdue message to the global community, stating that the era of empty climate promises must end and that delivering on commitments must begin now.

UN climate chief's warning

Simon Stiell, the UN climate chief, echoed similar concerns, warning that climate-vulnerable countries are caught in a cycle of debt, disasters and rising borrowing costs. He called for affordable funding, simplified access and stronger national institutions. Stiell emphasized that climate finance for developing nations must not become a new debt trap.

Demand for delivering global commitments

Observers note that while developed nations have made pledges to climate funds, complexities and conditionalities in implementation have prevented developing countries from receiving genuine support. Bangladesh and other climate-vulnerable nations are now demanding a transparent, predictable and debt-free financing mechanism to effectively address disasters and contribute to sustainable development.