Bangladesh has showcased jute as a sustainable alternative to plastic and a potential solution to global climate challenges at COP31, highlighting the country's natural fibre resources, production capacity and experience in climate adaptation.
The country hosted a side event titled “Natural Fibres, Zero Waste and Frugal Adaptation: Jute as a Solution from Bangladesh for the COP31 Action Agenda” at the Bangladesh Pavilion in the Blue Zone of the UN Climate Change Conference in Antalya, Türkiye, on Friday.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam chaired the session.
For the first time, Bangladesh has set up a dedicated Jute Pavilion at a UN Climate Change Conference, displaying around 550 kg of jute products in 130 varieties as part of its climate and economic diplomacy, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Textiles and Jute and the Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with Türkiye's Zero Waste Foundation, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA).
Shama thanked the government and people of Türkiye and the COP31 Presidency for their hospitality, describing jute, Bangladesh's golden fibre, as a renewable and biodegradable resource that is grown by local farmers and commercially produced by the country's industry.
“The materials we choose today will shape the planet our children inherit tomorrow,” she said.
Highlighting Türkiye's Zero Waste movement, she said zero waste and natural fibres represented two complementary approaches to building a sustainable future.
She also highlighted Bangladesh's low-cost climate adaptation practices, including floating gardens, early warning systems and saline-tolerant crops, noting that building resilience does not necessarily require costly solutions.
Chairman of the Environment Committee of Türkiye's Grand National Assembly Mehmet Galip Ensarioğlu stressed the need for climate policies that balance environmental goals with the development priorities of individual countries.
“Türkiye attaches great importance to its relations with Bangladesh. Bangladesh's expertise in jute is an outstanding example for the entire sector,” he said.
Recalling the launch of Türkiye's Zero Waste project in 2017, he said Bangladesh's experience in jute could offer valuable lessons for advancing a circular economy.
Director of the Asia Pacific Region at UNOPS Sara Austin Netzer said the organisation had been supporting Bangladesh in green and climate-resilient construction and would strengthen its partnership with the government in implementing the country's third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0).
“Bangladesh has the fibre, the skills and the production capacity. Natural fibres connect local resources with farmers and designers, and that is where lasting value is created,” she said.
She also highlighted the International Jute Trade and Expo in Dhaka as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation on nature-based solutions.
Founder of Threading Change and a Global Shaper of the World Economic Forum Sophia Yang called for a fair and equitable future for the fashion industry, pointing out that most clothing today is made from plastic-based synthetic fibres.
“Replacing synthetics with natural fibres is essential, and Bangladesh has the solution. Our generation wants the fibres of the future,” she said.
Kosovo's Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Fitore Pacolli said environmental choices directly affect people's everyday lives, stressing the need to make sustainable materials part of daily consumption.
“Kosovo will welcome jute, and our renowned designers are ready to create jute products,” she said, expressing interest in cooperation with Bangladesh.
Founder and Executive Director of Aroha Matthew McKinnon described the Jute Pavilion as “a real testament to what jute can do”.
He noted that although Bangladesh contributes very little to global emissions, it remains among the world's most climate-vulnerable countries and bears a disproportionate burden of climate change.
“Jute can further scale up Bangladesh's contribution to global climate action,” he said.
Water and Climate Adaptation Specialist at GCA Dr Feisal Rahman said the organisation is planning deeper collaboration with Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to advance sustainable climate action, building on its work with the country on locally led adaptation.
He said GCA, which has maintained its South Asia regional office in Dhaka since 2020, was keen to further strengthen its engagement with Bangladesh.