Bangladesh COP31: Green Voices Submits 10 Climate Proposals

Green Voices has submitted 10 evidence-based climate policy recommendations to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to help inform the country's preparations for the COP31 UN climate conference.

The recommendations were presented on October 18, 2026, to Mohammad Navid Safiullah, additional secretary and head of the ministry’s Climate Change Wing.

Developed in collaboration with BRAC University’s Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER), the proposals are intended to complement the government’s COP31 Position Paper by translating national climate priorities into practical and measurable action.

The recommendations draw on policy analysis, climate finance assessments and field-based evidence. Their main areas of focus include climate adaptation, international financing, Loss and Damage, technology transfer, capacity development and the participation of women and young people in climate decision-making.

Adaptation, finance and Loss and Damage

The proposals call for stronger implementation of Bangladesh’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP), with clearer institutional responsibilities, improved financing arrangements and more effective monitoring.

They also recommend inclusive indicators and data disaggregated by population group to help policymakers assess who benefits from adaptation programmes and identify gaps in implementation.

On climate finance, Green Voices urges the government to pursue funding that is more accessible, predictable and transparent, particularly for adaptation measures responding to locally identified needs.

The recommendations also highlight the importance of strengthening national and local capacities to access international climate finance and develop, implement and monitor climate-related investments.

Loss and Damage is another central priority. The proposals call for more systematic documentation of climate-related impacts, including displacement, disruption to livelihoods and non-economic losses.

Such losses can affect social and cultural connections, community well-being and long-term livelihoods beyond the immediate financial costs of climate-related disasters.

The recommendations further emphasise women's leadership, meaningful youth participation and access to appropriate technologies and technical expertise to support locally led climate action.

According to the supplied project statement, Safiullah welcomed the submission and recognised the relevance of practical, evidence-based recommendations to Bangladesh’s COP31 preparations.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss how research findings and experiences from climate-affected communities could inform policymaking and implementation.

Research partnership aims to strengthen climate participation

Green Voices: Empowering Women and Youth for Climate Action in Bangladesh is a consortium initiative supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in partnership with Bonhishikha and The Earth Society.

The project works to strengthen the participation and leadership of women and young people in climate decision-making through research, policy dialogue, capacity development and innovation.

It also supports the Women’s Climate Resilience and Adaptation Alliance (SheRAA), a network focused on advancing women's leadership and participation in climate policy.

BRAC University’s C3ER contributes research and technical expertise in climate policy analysis and evidence generation, helping connect national policy priorities with practical implementation needs.

The recommendations are intended to bring research, policy development and the experiences of climate-vulnerable communities into Bangladesh’s preparations for COP31 and its broader climate policy efforts.