At UNGA, Bangladesh urges climate justice, pledges mass tree-planting and water projects

Tarik Rahman described Bangladesh as among the countries most vulnerable to climate change and urged richer nations and multilateral institutions to provide climate justice, finance and adaptation support at the upcoming COP31.

"Although Bangladesh has contributed little to global carbon emissions, it is bearing the adverse consequences of climate change," Rahman said, and he called for "stronger global cooperation at COP 31 on climate justice, climate finance and adaptation support." He outlined domestic measures: a plan to plant 250 million trees over five years, investment in clean and solar energy, and proposed excavation of 20,000 kilometers of canals alongside reservoir projects intended to increase freshwater flows to and conserve the Sundarbans.

Rahman linked these measures to both environmental protection and resilience-building, noting they aim to reduce flood and drought impacts and to support sustainable livelihoods in vulnerable coastal and riverine areas.