As COP-29 approaches, the global climate crisis demands a heightened focus on water, a vital resource increasingly imperilled by climate change. While international discourse often centres on carbon emissions and energy, there is a pressing need to address the urgent challenges of water access and climate adaptation, especially for vulnerable nations like Bangladesh.
This call for action is underlined by the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, which warns that water scarcity and mismanagement could shrink global GDP by up to 15% by 2050, with low-income countries facing disproportionate harm. As global demand for water is set to outpace supply by 40% by 2030, closing the climate finance gap is critical to ensuring water security, economic resilience, and human dignity.
In Bangladesh, the effects of climate-induced water scarcity are immediate and painful. Rahima Khatun, a resident of Assasuni, bears witness to this reality daily. She treks over 5km to collect drinkable water due to severe salinity in local sources -- a burden worsened by record-breaking heat waves. April 2024 brought extreme temperatures that soared to 43.8°C in places like Jashore, making the already challenging task of collecting water physically taxing and hazardous.
Rahima’s story reflects the silent suffering of countless individuals affected by “non-economic losses and damages,” which include physical health impacts, mental strain, and social dislocation -- all consequences of climate impacts that do not show up on economic balance sheets but deeply affect lives.
Water stress in Bangladesh is not limited to one community; it is a crisis that extends across the country and beyond its borders. In recent years, record rainfall upstream in India has caused devastating downstream flooding in Bangladesh, as seen in the 2022 floods that ravaged Sylhet and Sunamganj.
The pattern continued in 2024: Recent decisions in India to open its dams have compounded flood risks in Bangladesh’s Feni district, with inadequate transboundary communication. With over 1.5 million people who were stranded by rising waters in districts such as Feni, Cumilla, and Noakhali, the need for effective, coordinated cross-border adaptation has never been more evident -- but unfortunately has taken a backseat.
When situations, like that of finance, force countries to hold on collaborative actions, vulnerable communities face not only environmental disaster but also political neglect.
US neglect
Despite these urgent challenges, the global political landscape often fails to treat climate issues with the gravity they require. Globally, and particularly in the US, climate action has often taken a backseat to political interests. With the elections showing a looming situation, both Harris and Trump downplayed climate science with tokenistic mentions.
The blatant disregard of climate realities continues to impact discourse and delay climate justice, as platforms that enable denialism create a lag in public understanding and support, especially with two major wars now taking the driving seats.
The direction of American climate policy hangs in the balance, with significant implications for global climate finance and adaptation funding. The stakes for COP-29 are high: Without adequate contributions from major economies like the US, the global community risks missing critical targets for adaptation financing and climate justice.
Efforts to ensure water security
The recent launch of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water underscores the interconnectedness of climate and water security, calling for an international approach to both “blue” and “green” water resources to mitigate future risks. Blue water, found in rivers and lakes, is essential for agriculture and drinking supplies, while green water -- the soil moisture crucial for crop growth -- is equally vulnerable to changing rainfall patterns and drought.
As Bangladesh contends with decreasing water sources and unpredictable floods, investing in resilient WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) systems and adaptation infrastructure is essential to avoid an escalating humanitarian crisis.
The commission’s report outlines a circular water economy as a way forward, emphasizing the need for sustainable water management practices that reduce waste and recycle water resources to ensure long-term resilience -- however what is evident is that the comradery our practising communities, policy makers, and the citizens had 10 years ago is slowly fading, which casts a shadow in the harmony of circular economy.
When situations, like that of finance, force countries to hold on collaborative actions, vulnerable communities face not only environmental disaster but also political neglect
WaterAid Bangladesh’s WE-WE (Water Entrepreneurship-Water Empowerment) approach, exemplifies the kind of targeted adaptation efforts needed to address non-economic losses and empower marginalized communities. Through this approach, women are receiving resources and training to manage water more effectively, helping to alleviate some of the daily struggles and physical toll they endure.
Yet, even promising initiatives like WE-WE can only do so much without substantial climate finance. The funding gaps in adaptation must be prioritized to ensure that local communities are equipped with the necessary tools and support to withstand and adapt to climate shocks.
The real-world impacts
The impacts of climate change are not theoretical. From El Niño-induced heat waves to erratic monsoon rainfall, extreme weather is already reshaping lives in Bangladesh and across South Asia. In 2022, Pakistan’s unprecedented floods killed over 1,700 people, underscoring the catastrophic potential of climate-fuelled disasters.
Bangladesh’s current experience with extreme heat, flooding, and cross-border water tensions paints a similarly grim picture, emphasizing the need for swift, coordinated international responses. For Bangladesh and other vulnerable countries, climate finance is not just about carbon reduction; it is about survival, water security, and ensuring a future where communities can live with dignity.
Addressing COP-29
At COP-29, the world’s leaders must move beyond pledges and into action that addresses the immediate needs of water security and adaptation. As global temperatures rise, the physical and socio-economic tolls of water insecurity will only intensify.
The stories of Rahima Khatun and Lakkhi Rani in Bangladesh illustrate a stark truth: The climate crisis does not respect political borders or economic boundaries. As we stand on the brink of irreversible climate impacts, COP-29 offers a pivotal moment to act decisively.
This year’s COP-29 is set to be a turning point for climate finance, especially as it relates to adaptation and resilience funding -- a key priority for water-stressed regions like Bangladesh. With the Global Commission on the Economics of Water highlighting a potential $18 billion annual gap in water-related climate finance, the stakes are high for securing commitments that address urgent needs.
Without these funds, people like Rahima Khatun will continue to face worsening conditions -- extreme heat, drought, and limited access to clean water. Access to sustained financing could help build resilient infrastructure, adaptive water systems, and climate-proof community projects, safeguarding millions from the escalating threats posed by climate change.
COP-29 must bridge these finance gaps to enable adaptive strategies that transform local resilience, ensuring that the hardest-hit communities are not left behind. The window for action is closing rapidly, and decisive financial commitments at COP-29 could mark a turning point for vulnerable regions, providing the resources to sustain both human lives and fragile ecosystems amidst rising climate pressures.
If global leaders are serious about preventing further suffering and securing a sustainable future for everyone, forward actions from COP-29 must prioritize water-related climate adaptation.
As COP-29 moves forward, it is imperative that water finance is made a cornerstone of climate discussions. If the international community does not act now, the stories of people like Rahima will become more common -- however as we move closer to the year 2030 -- these stories will become much more dire. I sincerely hope we are all ready for it.
Adnan Ibne Abdul Qader, Partha Hefaz Shaikh, and Hasin Jahan are Development professionals from WaterAid Bangladesh.
