The national climate budget shows a lack of proper allocation for drought-prone areas compared to regions vulnerable to cyclones, floods, river erosion, and salinity, experts have said.
This concern was highlighted in the climate vulnerability scenario analysis conducted by the Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD).
It also analyzed the scenario of climate vulnerabilities of the regions and communities, especially the plainland ethnic minorities.
These insights were shared during the study presentation titled “Distributive Justice in Bangladesh’s Climate Finance: Challenges and Recommendations for Policy Takeaways,” organized by CPRD and HEKS/EPER in Dhaka.
Experts also emphasized the need for a collective initiative to develop projects and implement systematic reforms to the Climate Change Trust Act, 2010.
The study aimed to determine whether BCCTF and National Climate Budget projects were approved with considerations for climate change rationale and geographical equity.
The research examined climate finance flows in drought-prone and Barind areas, comparing them with other stressed regions. It also assessed the climate vulnerabilities faced by communities, particularly the indigenous peoples of the plains.
The study reviewed 790 BCCTF projects from FY2008-2009 to FY2022-2023 and 262 national climate budget-funded projects implemented by 25 ministries and their line agencies in FY2022-2023.
Findings revealed a stark lack of distributive justice in the BCCTF and climate budget, with significantly lower funding for drought-prone and Barind areas compared to other climate-stressed regions.
The Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions together implemented 143 BCCTF projects, which is half compared to 281 projects in the two coastal divisions. Of the ongoing national climate budget projects, 63 were found under implementation in the drought-prone and Barind areas.
The study also discovered a conspicuous bias of climate financing towards infrastructural development as well as sudden disaster-driven vulnerabilities, with less importance to the sufferers of slow onset events, particularly, drought.
The study also found that from FY2009-2010 to FY2022-2023, more than 50% of BCCTF projects worth Tk2095.41 crore represented 50.89% of project funds spent on infrastructure development.
On the other hand, BCCTF’s thematic area “integrated disaster management” received only seven projects worth Tk32.24 crores, representing 0.89% of the funds.
During this period, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, along with its allied agencies such as city corporations, municipalities, upazilas, and zila parishads, accessed a total of 479 BCCTF projects.
In contrast, the authorities most relevant to climate-sensitive sectors—the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief—implemented only 23 and nine projects, respectively, accounting for 3% and 1% of the total projects.
Among the BCCSAP thematic areas, food security, social protection, and health received 42.28% of the National Climate Budget resources for FY2023-2024, followed closely by the thematic area of infrastructure.
Md Shamsudohha, chief executive of CPRD, explained the study findings and proposed several recommendations.
He demands increasing climate budget allocation and ensuring need-based and equitable allocation; development of a separate adaptation plan for the plainland ethnic minority communities and inclusion of this in the NAP; a locally-led climate vulnerability analysis’; fostering gender-responsive climate-resilient livelihoods; ensuring climate-sensitive land use planning; capacity building of the local government authorities; and exploring mitigation opportunities aligned with the NDCs.
Dr Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed, deputy managing director, Palli KarmaSahayak Foundation (PKSF) said: “We need to focus on existing resources and practical solutions based on local needs in decision-making.”
He also said adaptation plans should be designed for vulnerable groups with similar socio-economic backgrounds, ensuring equitable support in the climate stress areas and climate finance must be integrated across sectors to maximize impact.
Corinne Henchoz Pignani, deputy head of mission Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh was present as a guest of honour.
She said infrastructure is important, but most important is the dimension of humanity.
She emphasized behavioural change, and localized approaches as there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution. "True progress in climate action and justice will be achieved when communities own and develop the strategies by incorporating locally led adaptation in the central role."
Rana Mohammad Sohail, former MP, underscored addressing the specific needs of each constituency is critical, especially in terms of funding.
He also said capacity development at the local level is essential to ensure the development of competitive project proposals from the field level to be qualified for funding. “We need an integrated, collective and comprehensive approach to developing projects.”
Dora Chaudhuri, country director of HEKS/EPER, gave the vote of thanks to all present and concluded highlighting that despite having a rich policy orientation and mechanisms, achieving climate resilience remains elusive due to several procedural and systemic challenges.
