Climate policies must translate into projects, measurable results: Minister

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has stressed the need to translate national climate policies and plans into coordinated programmes, quality projects, appropriate financing and measurable results.
He said today’s development decisions would shape climate risks for decades, making it essential for major investments to take the climate conditions of the relevant areas into account.
The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at the opening of the two-day Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP) Knowledge Conference 2026 at a hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday.
He also launched the BCDP Web Portal, a digital platform for real-time monitoring of climate-related projects and investments. The portal will help improve information management and transparency and strengthen the development of domestic and international climate finance pipelines.
Mintoo said adaptation investments often deliver significant public benefits without generating direct revenue, and climate financing arrangements must reflect Bangladesh’s development priorities and fiscal capacity. He also called for greater private investment in clean energy and sustainable infrastructure.
He stressed that women, young people, persons with disabilities and marginalised communities must have meaningful opportunities to participate in project design, implementation and monitoring. Alongside stronger institutions, sound investment decisions and transparent resource use, Bangladesh would continue to seek international support and climate justice for adaptation and climate-related loss and damage, he said.
Speaking as a special guest, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam highlighted rising coastal salinity, declining crop production and growing pressure on livelihoods caused by climate change. He said the government was prioritising nature-based solutions, including canal excavation and tree planting, while promoting electric buses and solar power for low-carbon development. He sought active cooperation from partner organisations to make BCDP activities more dynamic and effective.
Dr Md Saimum Parvez, special assistant to the prime minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said Bangladesh’s climate adaptation experience was a story of courage, innovation and collective action. He emphasised local community leadership and ownership, accessible and equitable grant-based financing, capacity development, transparency and accountability. He called for sharing Bangladesh’s experience in early warning systems and community-based adaptation and turning the conference discussions into concrete commitments, partnerships and action.
ADB Executive Director Satya Srinivas Lolla, who represents Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Lao PDR, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, said implementing Bangladesh’s national climate plans required substantial public and private investment. The conference’s success would depend on subsequent action and investment, he said, stressing the need to combine financing, technical expertise, institutional capacity and partnerships to move from planning to implementation.
The first day’s discussions focused on climate resilience and low-carbon growth, the National Adaptation Plan and implementation of NDC 3.0. Sessions today will cover energy transition, low-carbon transport, water resources management, climate-resilient agriculture and preparation of investment-ready projects, among other issues. Strengthening coordination, financing and partnerships to implement the National Adaptation Plan 2023–2050 and NDC 3.0 is a key objective of the conference.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Dr Fahmida Khanam, acting secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Additional Secretary (Climate Change) Mohammad Navid Shafiullah delivered the welcome address, while Joint Secretary Munira Sultana moderated the event.