State Minister Faridul calls for united action by climate-vulnerable nations

State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam has called for stronger collective action and international cooperation among climate-vulnerable countries to address the growing impacts of climate change.

He said rising sea levels were posing serious threats to Bangladesh's safe drinking water, food security, housing and infrastructure, making coordinated efforts among countries of the Global South increasingly important, according to a press release of the ministry.

“Climate-vulnerable countries must collectively raise their demands and priorities at international forums to ensure the rights and livelihoods of affected communities,” he said.

The State Minister made the remarks while delivering the opening address at a high-level policy dialogue titled “Living Waters, Shared Rights: Climate Resilience through Natural Rights-Led Governance” at the Bangladesh Pavilion on Monday, the opening day of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye.

Organised by Change Initiative in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland and WaterAid Bangladesh, the dialogue focused on natural rights-based water governance, the protection of transboundary rivers, climate resilience and equitable access to water for local communities.

Shaikh Faridul Islam, who is also the convener of the Nature and Governance Policy Platform (NGPP), said climate change was increasingly threatening the lives and livelihoods of people in developing and vulnerable countries.

He said that access to safe drinking water and food security must receive greater attention in international climate negotiations.

Speakers at the dialogue said rivers do not follow political boundaries and called for transboundary water management policies that recognise natural river flows, protect ecosystems and uphold the rights of communities dependent on shared water resources.

Delivering the keynote presentation, M Zakir Hossain Khan, co-founder and chief executive of Change Initiative, highlighted the global water crisis, disruptions to natural river flows and inequalities in climate finance.

He said Bangladesh shares 54 transboundary rivers with India, while the 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty is set to expire on 12 December 2026.

He stressed the need for effective cooperation and coordinated policy initiatives to ensure sustainable management of transboundary rivers.

According to research by Change Initiative presented at the dialogue, Bangladesh received $7.78 in loans for every $1 in grants in climate financing for the water supply sector between 2002 and 2023.

The findings underscored the need to increase grant-based financing instead of loans for climate-vulnerable countries and local communities.

Mansura Akter, a member of parliament and core member of NGPP, said ordinary people experienced climate change through shortages of safe drinking water, inadequate water for agriculture and flood-related damage.

She called for effective and long-term policy measures to ensure people's right to water.

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Dr Mustafa Berk Duygu, head of the Drinking Water Department at the General Directorate of Water Management under Türkiye's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, highlighted the importance of cooperation and technical knowledge-sharing among countries sharing river basins.

Chitembo Kawimbe Chunga, head of Adaptation and Resilience at the Climate Investment Funds, stressed the importance of locally led climate adaptation initiatives and more effective climate financing.

Dr Manohara Khadka, Nepal country representative of the International Water Management Institute, called for climate finance justice and greater use of scientific research in policymaking and investment planning.

Sejal Patel, senior researcher at the International Institute for Environment and Development, emphasised long-term investment in protecting rivers, wetlands and groundwater resources, alongside grant-based financing for local communities.

Shirin Sultana Lira, senior programme manager at the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, shared experiences of sustainable water management through joint participation by local governments and communities.

International experts on climate finance and water governance, development partners and representatives of Indigenous communities from Bangladesh and Chile also attended the dialogue.