By now, Bangladesh’s reality as one of the most climate‑vulnerable nations in the world is well known. It is also known that the climate crisis is one caused by the developed nations of the world, with countries like Bangladesh suffering disproportionately as a result of their industrialization.
With that said, while the developed world has an obligation to assist nations such as ours in their fight against climate change, we have no option but to mobilize our own finances and resources to combat its effects.
To that end, it is worrying that climate finance continues to bypass one of our most urgent needs: Health. As noted by researchers and policy-makers recently, spending on climate-related health programs has declined sharply in recent years despite mounting climate-linked disease burdens and health risks.
Even more worrying is the fact that less than 1% of the country’s dedicated climate fund has been allocated to health projects. Climate finance flows remaining overwhelmingly directed toward infrastructure and mitigation is a mistake and leaves health systems dangerously underfunded.
We must recognize that climate resilience cannot be built on bridges and embankments alone. Hospitals, clinics, and community health networks are frontline defenses against climate disasters and without sufficient investment in health, Bangladesh risks multiplying the human cost of every cyclone, every flood, and every heatwave.
The upcoming FY27 budget offers an opportunity; we must integrate climate health into our fiscal planning. In addition, international climate finance must also be redirected to support health resilience.
Climate finance must reflect the reality that health is inseparable from resilience. To ignore this intersection is to leave millions vulnerable. Climate action without health is incomplete.