Antalya:State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam has emphasized the critical necessity for collective action and enhanced international cooperation among climate-vulnerable countries to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the state minister highlighted that by jointly voicing their concerns and priorities at international forums, vulnerable countries could make significant strides in improving living standards, securing safe drinking water, and bolstering food security for affected communities. His remarks came during the opening address at a high-level policy dialogue titled "Living Waters, Shared Rights Climate Resilience through Natural Rights-Led Governance" at the Bangladesh Pavilion, held on the first day of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Antalya, Turkiye.
Rising sea levels present serious threats to Bangladesh, affecting access to safe drinking water, food security, housing, and infrastructure, According to state minister. He underscored the importance of stronger cooperation among Global South nations and climate-vulnerable countries to address these escalating challenges.
The dialogue, organized by Change Initiative in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland and WaterAid Bangladesh, focused on natural rights-led water governance, the protection of transboundary rivers, enhanced climate resilience, and equitable access to water for local communities. Faridul Islam, also the Convener of the Nature and Governance Policy Platform (NGPP), called for coordinated initiatives to safeguard the interests of climate-vulnerable countries and strengthen international cooperation effectively.
Speakers at the dialogue pointed out that the natural flow of rivers transcends political boundaries, and transboundary river management must consider the natural characteristics of rivers, ecosystem protection, and the rights of communities reliant on shared water resources. They stressed the formulation of effective water governance policies that integrate scientific evidence, natural rights principles, and international collaboration.
M. Zakir Hossain Khan, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of Change Initiative, highlighted the significance of effective cooperation and coordinated policy initiatives for sustainable transboundary water governance, noting that the 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty between Bangladesh and India is set to expire on December 12, 2026. Research presented by Change Initiative revealed that Bangladesh received USD 7.78 in loans for every USD 1 in grants in climate finance for the water supply sector from 2002 to 2023, underscoring the need for increased grant-based climate financing for climate-vulnerable countries and local communities.
The dialogue also saw participation from international experts on climate finance and water governance, development partners, and representatives of Indigenous communities from Bangladesh and Chile.