United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Dr Khalilur Rahman has urged world leaders to turn international climate commitments into concrete action, warning that the widening gap between political promises and implementation is putting millions of vulnerable people at risk.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Rahman said current projections point towards approximately 2.8 degrees Celsius of global warming, far exceeding the Paris Agreement’s ambition of limiting the rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
“Paris gave us a compass, the UAE Consensus gave us a direction, and the Taku Pakasoa Declaration gave us the islands and Pacific’s voice. Antalya must now give us delivery.”
Warning against continued reliance on political declarations without effective implementation, Rahman said the consequences of inaction were already being felt worldwide.
“Not a gap; it’s a chasm, and people are falling into it every day,” he said, referring to the disparity between international climate ambitions and current warming projections.
He outlined three priorities for the summit: accelerating the transition to clean energy, securing predictable climate finance for developing countries, and strengthening protection for communities increasingly exposed to climate disasters.
Priority 1: Decarbonization
Identifying decarbonization as a central priority, Rahman called for faster action to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and expand renewable energy, electrification and low-carbon development.
He said global greenhouse gas emissions needed to decline by 45% by 2035, requiring countries to introduce ambitious national policies, investment programs and measurable implementation plans. He also called for approximately 1,200 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity to be deployed annually, highlighting the scale of transformation needed to meet global climate goals.
Rahman urged governments to translate the COP31 presidency’s 2035 sectoral benchmarks on electrification, sustainable buildings, green industry and zero waste into concrete national roadmaps and investment-ready projects.
Global carbon emissions reached a record 42 billion tons in 2025, he noted, underscoring the urgency of accelerating the transition towards cleaner energy systems.
For countries such as Bangladesh, the transition presents both an environmental necessity and an economic challenge. Expanding renewable energy, modernizing electricity infrastructure and reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels will be essential to ensuring energy security while supporting sustainable economic growth.
Priority 2: Climate finance
Climate finance was Rahman’s second priority, particularly the widening gap between developing countries’ adaptation requirements and available international support. He said developing countries needed up to $305 billion annually for climate adaptation, while international adaptation finance currently stood at approximately $26 billion.
“This gap is not a rounding error; it’s a verdict on our solidarity,” he said.
Rahman called on developed countries and international financial institutions to provide predictable, accessible and grant-based financing rather than relying heavily on loans that could increase the debt burdens of vulnerable economies. He also urged stronger capitalization of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage, which supports developing countries facing the irreversible consequences of climate change.
He stressed that climate finance should be distributed according to vulnerability and exposure to climate risks rather than relying exclusively on national income classifications.
The issue is particularly significant for Bangladesh, where rising sea levels, coastal erosion, salinity intrusion, flooding and increasingly destructive cyclones threaten livelihoods and development gains. In coastal communities, climate impacts are affecting agriculture, freshwater availability, public health and employment. Greater access to international adaptation finance is therefore essential to strengthening resilience and protecting vulnerable populations.
Priority 3: Protecting vulnerable communities
Rahman’s third priority focused on protecting vulnerable communities through stronger early warning systems, disaster preparedness and locally led adaptation. He called for greater investment in technologies capable of identifying climate-related threats and delivering timely warnings, including through artificial intelligence and modern communication networks.
He particularly highlighted remote communities and high-risk glacial regions, where geographical isolation and limited access to information can increase exposure to disasters. However, technology must be supported by community-level preparedness and effective communication systems to ensure that warnings translate into timely protective action.
Bangladesh has developed considerable experience in cyclone preparedness and community-based disaster management. Nevertheless, growing risks from extreme heat, flash floods, river erosion and changing rainfall patterns require continued investment in forecasting and adaptation.
Rahman also called for financial support and compensation for communities protecting major forest ecosystems, including the Amazon, the Congo Basin and forests in Bangladesh. He highlighted their contribution to biodiversity conservation, carbon storage and maintaining ecosystems that are essential to addressing the climate crisis.
A COP of implementation
In a separate video message ahead of the conference, Rahman reiterated that climate commitments must deliver practical benefits for people already experiencing the consequences of global warming.
He said COP31’s outcomes should contribute to the wider international development agenda, particularly the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and pledged to carry the conference’s outcomes into the 2027 SDG Summit, stressing the importance of connecting climate action with global development priorities.
“The small gavel of Paris did big things. Let the gavel of Antalya do bigger ones. Let this be the COP of implementation,” he said.
Adopted in 2015, the Paris Agreement established a global framework to limit temperature increases, strengthen climate resilience and mobilize financial support for developing countries. More than a decade later, insufficient climate finance, slow emissions reductions and intensifying climate disasters continue to threaten its objectives.
For Bangladesh and other climate-vulnerable nations, the stakes extend beyond diplomatic negotiations to food and water security, public health, economic stability and the protection of livelihoods.
As COP31 negotiations continue, Rahman’s message highlights a fundamental test for the international community: whether governments can move beyond promises and deliver the finance, technology and practical action needed to address the climate crisis.