Dhaka:The two-day Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP) Knowledge Conference 2026 commenced in Dhaka, bringing together over 500 global and national climate leaders, policymakers, development partners, private sector executives, and civil society representatives. The event aims to enhance climate resilience and investment frameworks.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the conference is organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It seeks to accelerate the execution of the Bangladesh National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023-2050 and the strategic investment frameworks of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) 3.0.
A significant highlight of the opening day was the launch of the BCDP Web Portal and the Climate Solutions Exhibition. Unveiled by Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Abdul Awal Mintoo, the portal is designed as a centralized hub for real-time project tracking, pipeline management, data integration, and cross-sector coordination to facilitate both domestic and international climate investments.
In his inaugural address, Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo underscored the importance of current development decisions in shaping Bangladesh's climate risk landscape for the future. He emphasized the need to transform national policies into coordinated programs, quality projects, and measurable outcomes, while also aligning climate finance frameworks with the country's fiscal landscape.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of private sector involvement in clean energy, climate justice concerning Loss and Damage, and the inclusive participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities in project governance.
Satya Srinivas Lolla, Executive Director of the ADB, spoke about the challenges and opportunities posed by Bangladesh's graduation from the Least Developed Country category amidst its ongoing climate vulnerabilities. Lolla stressed that the success of the conference hinges on post-discussion actions and investments, requiring substantial public and private capital to realize ambitions. He noted that the BCDP initiative serves to align financing, technical expertise, and institutional capacity for effective implementation.
The opening session featured key figures from government and international agencies, including State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Md Saimum Parvez, and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office A B M Abdus Sattar. Additional Secretary (Climate Change) Mohammad Navid Shafullah delivered welcome remarks, while Acting Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Fahmida Khanom chaired the session.
The first day included three strategic plenary sessions focusing on low-carbon growth pathways, localized implementation, and cost modeling for NAP 2023-2050, as well as Multilateral Development Bank blended finance mechanisms for NDC 3.0.
The conference will conclude with focused working groups and technical sessions dedicated to de-risking climate investments, building investment-ready project pipelines, and structuring public-private financing across the energy, transport, and agricultural sectors.