Civil society seeks continued climate financing after LDC graduation

Civil society members from Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal have called for continued access to concessional and grant-based climate financing even after the countries graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category, warning that economic progress does not automatically reduce climate vulnerability.

The demand was made at a press conference held at the National Press Club in Dhaka on Saturday ahead of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), scheduled to take place in Antalya, Turkiye from November 9 to 20, BSS reports.

The speakers said despite differences in their geographical and socioeconomic conditions, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal face shared climate risks due to their location, the Himalayan mountain range and transboundary river systems.

Climate change is placing growing pressure on people's livelihoods, infrastructure, economies and public finances across the region, making coordinated regional action essential, they added.

The press conference, titled "Addressing LDC-Graduation Paradox and Climate Risks in BBN: Urgency for a Vulnerability-Based Adaptation Narrative under UNFCCC," was organised jointly by the Centre for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD), Climate Justice   Alliance-Bangladesh, Coastal and Sundarbans Protection Movement, Climate Action Forum, Shariatpur Development Society (SDS) and several other civil society and development organisations.

CPRD Chief Executive and Climate Justice Alliance-Bangladesh Coordinator Md. Shamsuddoha chaired the event.
He said economic development or graduation from the LDC category does not reduce a country's exposure to climate risks or automatically strengthen its capacity to cope with climate impacts.

Bhutan has already graduated from the LDC category, while Bangladesh and Nepal are also in the process of graduation. However, all three countries continue to face significant    climate vulnerabilities, he noted.

Shamsuddoha called for stronger coordination and joint advocacy among the governments and civil society organisations of the three countries during COP31 and beyond.

Presenting a keynote paper, Sumaiya Binte Anwar, programme manager of CPRD's Research and Advocacy Department, said international climate finance and adaptation frameworks need to be revised.

She said conventional development indicators alone should not determine a country's climate vulnerability or adaptation needs.
Rabeya Begum, executive director of Shariatpur Development Society, said LDC graduation should not be confused with graduation from climate vulnerability. 

She argued that a country's adaptation assistance should not be reduced simply because it has made economic progress.
Climate Action Forum President Aminur Rasul said the adaptation needs and right to survival of climate-vulnerable communities must not be subordinated to the economic interests of developed countries.

Nikhil Chandra, coordinator of Coastal and Sundarbans Protection Movement, called for treating climate adaptation and mitigation as complementary priorities. 

He also urged developed countries to ensure adequate international support for adaptation in line with their historical responsibilities.
Representatives of civil society organisations from the three countries presented three key demands at the press conference: prioritising adaptation in global climate negotiations, continuing concessional and grant-based climate financing after LDC graduation, and establishing coordinated regional initiatives among Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal.

The speakers also said climate financing should take vulnerability, exposure and human rights into account.
They called for joint programmes among the three countries to ensure transparency and accountability in the allocation and use of climate funds.
Among others, former Dhaka Reporters Unity president Rafiqul Islam Azad, Assistant Professor of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University Mir Mohammad Ali, Habibur Rahman of Sachetan Foundation and Md. Anwar Hossain of Riverine People spoke at the event, which was attended by representatives of civil society organisations and environmental experts.