Antalya:State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has emphasized the critical need for coordinated initiatives and sufficient financing to ensure the effective participation and leadership of women in climate action.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Shama underscored the importance of gender-responsive climate planning, institutional coordination, and women's access to climate finance during an event at the Bangladesh Pavilion at COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye. The event, organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and UN Women Bangladesh, focused on strengthening gender-responsive climate governance and finance.
Shama highlighted the establishment of a climate affairs wing within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enhance international climate engagement. This wing is set to collaborate with the environment ministry and civil society organizations to gather gender-disaggregated data, improve knowledge management, and provide effective climate finance access for women.
Environment ministry Joint Secretary Rubina Ferdousi presented Bangladesh's initiatives in gender-responsive climate adaptation, noting the adoption of the Climate Change and Gender Action Plan (CCGAP) in 2024. She described measures such as establishing gender and climate change focal points in key ministries, defining officials' responsibilities, and developing institutional action plans.
Speakers at the event stressed the need to convert policy commitments under the National Adaptation Plan and CCGAP into sectoral programs and measurable results. They called for greater investment and cooperation from development partners, international financial institutions, and the private sector, emphasizing gender-responsive budgeting and effective financing mechanisms.
Additional Secretary Navid Shafiullah highlighted the importance of addressing women's needs in adaptation initiatives due to their disproportionate impacts from climate change. UN Women Bangladesh's Dilruba Haider moderated a panel discussion that included various international participants, all advocating for a practical post-COP31 roadmap to accelerate gender-responsive climate action. Participants expressed hope that Bangladesh's experience could offer valuable lessons for other countries implementing the Belém Gender Action Plan.