COP-31 opens today: Bangladesh presses for climate justice and finance as PM heads to Turkiye

The 31st United Nations Climate Conference (COP-31) begins today in Antalya, Turkiye, with expectations of tackling the impacts of climate change, securing fair finance for affected countries, and taking effective steps to control global warming.

Running from today, Monday 9 November, until 20 November, the conference will bring together heads of state and government, policymakers, environmentalists and climate experts from around the world. As a climate-vulnerable country, Bangladesh's position and demands at this conference will carry special importance, according to those concerned.

At the conference, to be held at the Antalya Expo Centre, the key issues will be strengthening international cooperation to tackle the climate crisis, reducing carbon emissions, expanding green technology, and ensuring adequate climate finance for developing countries. Particular emphasis is being placed on ensuring real action alongside the commitments of developed countries to implement the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

At the invitation of the Government of Turkiye, Prime Minister Tareque Rahman is travelling to the country tomorrow, Tuesday (10 November), on a three-day visit to take part in the high-level session of the conference. During the visit he will deliver speeches at two separate sessions.

He is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and take part in several high-level meetings with leaders of various countries.

Bangladesh's demand for climate finance and compensation is one of its main priorities at this conference: securing effective financial and technological support from developed countries to deal with the losses caused by climate change.

In particular, Bangladesh will demand that the Loss and Damage Fund be made effective, grant-based finance be increased, and the adaptation fund be expanded.

People in Bangladesh's coastal regions, haors, chars and drought-prone areas face growing risks from climate change. Natural disasters such as cyclones, floods, river erosion, salinity, drought and heatwaves are having a negative impact on people's lives and livelihoods, agriculture and the economy.

In this situation, the government is emphasising securing grant-based finance by reducing dependence on loans to implement the national adaptation plan. Compensation will also be demanded for climate-induced displacement, loss of livelihoods and other non-economic losses.

The COP-31 agenda gives importance to reducing carbon emissions and green technology, including cutting global carbon emissions, controlling methane gas emissions, and building energy-efficient infrastructure. Discussions will also cover the goal of raising global electrification to 35 percent by 2035 and reducing energy use in the building sector by 25 percent.

The transfer of environment-friendly technology to developing countries and increased cooperation in building climate-resilient infrastructure will also be important. The need for effective action by developed countries to achieve the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels will also be raised.

At previous conferences, many promises were made on climate finance, carbon emission cuts and technology transfer, but there has not been enough progress in implementation. As a result, this conference needs not just assurances but time-bound, implementable decisions.

The Bangladesh delegation will present the country's position on the international stage. A position paper has been prepared based on the views of experts and relevant government offices to present Bangladesh's position more forcefully at the conference. The Bangladesh delegation will work in coordination with the Least Developed Countries (LDC) group, the G77 and like-minded countries.

At the conference venue, the Government of Bangladesh will set up a 100-square-metre main pavilion and a separate jute pavilion. Through these pavilions, Bangladesh's experience in climate adaptation, environment-friendly initiatives and jute-based potential will be presented on the international stage.

Alongside the COP-31 conference, Prime Minister Tareque Rahman will hold a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Earlier, on 22 September, the two leaders met for their first bilateral meeting while attending the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States.

At that meeting, held at the Turkish House near the UN headquarters, they discussed further strengthening the friendly relations between Bangladesh and Turkiye and expanding cooperation in various areas of mutual interest. At this meeting in Antalya, besides the relations between the two countries, various international and regional issues may also be discussed.

All in all, the COP-31 conference is not just an international platform for climate diplomacy for Bangladesh, but an important opportunity to secure fair compensation for climate-related losses, grant-based finance and technological cooperation. Only if world leaders go beyond promises and take effective decisions can a sustainable future be ensured for countries at risk from the climate crisis.