More than 500 national and international climate leaders, policymakers, development partners, private-sector executives and civil society representatives have gathered in Dhaka for the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership Knowledge Conference 2026, focusing on turning Bangladesh’s climate ambitions into investment-ready projects and measurable outcomes.
The 2-day conference, which opened on Wednesday, is bringing climate finance, adaptation, mitigation, development planning and private investment to the center of discussions as Bangladesh seeks to implement its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023–2050 and advance investment priorities under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) 3.0.
Organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the conference aims to strengthen coordination among the government, development partners, financial institutions, private investors and other stakeholders to mobilize resources for climate-resilient development.
A key message from the opening day was that climate policies must be translated into well-designed programs, bankable projects, appropriate financing mechanisms and effective implementation.
A major highlight was the launch of the Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP) Web Portal and a Climate Solutions Exhibition. The portal is intended to provide a centralized system for tracking climate-related projects, managing investment pipelines, integrating data and improving coordination among government agencies and development partners.
The BCDP, established in 2024 as a national institutional platform, aims to strengthen climate-finance mobilization, resource allocation and policy coordination.
Inaugurating the conference, Abdul Awal Mintoo, Member of Parliament and Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, formally unveiled the portal. He said decisions on infrastructure, economic development and investment would influence Bangladesh’s climate risks and development trajectory for decades.
Mintoo stressed that the immediate challenge was translating climate policies into coordinated programs, quality projects, suitable financing arrangements and measurable results. He also highlighted the financial challenges of adaptation projects, called for greater private-sector participation in clean energy, and stressed climate justice in addressing Loss and Damage.
He said women, young people, persons with disabilities and marginalized communities should have meaningful participation in the design and governance of climate projects.
Speaking for the ADB, Satya Srinivas Lolla, Executive Director representing Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Lao PDR, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, said Bangladesh was progressing toward graduation from the Least Developed Country category while remaining highly exposed to climate risks.
He said the conference should ultimately be judged by the actions and investments that follow, stressing the need to bring together finance, technical expertise, institutional capacity and partnerships.
The NAP’s implementation was a major focus on the first day, including localized implementation, sector-specific cost modeling and integration with national budget allocation processes. Discussions also covered MDB financial instruments to mobilize and blend public and private capital for NDC 3.0.
Priority sectors include energy transition, sustainable transport, water-resource management and climate-resilient agriculture, while participants also stressed inclusive climate investment for poor and marginalized communities, women, young people and people with disabilities.
The inaugural session was attended by Shaikh Faridul Islam, State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Dr Md Saimum Parvez, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and A B M Abdus Sattar, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Mohammad Navid Safiullah, Additional Secretary for Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, delivered the welcome remarks. The session was chaired by Acting Secretary Dr Fahmida Khanom.
The conference concludes on October 8 with working groups and technical sessions on de-risking climate investments, developing investment-ready project pipelines and establishing public-private financing structures in energy, transport and agriculture.
