The two-day 'Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP) Knowledge Conference 2026' held in Dhaka on Wednesday, bringing together over 500 global and national climate leaders, policymakers, development partners, private sector executives, and civil society representatives to scale up climate resilience and investment frameworks.
Organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the conference aims 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 major milestone of the opening day was the official launch of the BCDP Web Portal alongside the Climate Solutions Exhibition. Unveiled by Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Abdul Awal Mintoo, MP, the digital platform serves as a centralized hub for real-time project tracking, pipeline management, data integration, and cross-sector coordination to streamline domestic and international climate investments.
Inaugurating the conference, Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo emphasized that present-day development decisions will define the country's climate risk landscape for decades to come.
"The primary task ahead is to translate national policies and frameworks into coordinated programmes, quality projects, appropriate financing, and measurable outcomes," the Minister stated.
Highlighting that adaptation initiatives yield vital social welfare benefits without standard commercial returns, he called for climate finance frameworks to align with Bangladesh's fiscal landscape. He also urged expanded private sector participation in clean energy, advocated for climate justice regarding Loss and Damage, and demanded the inclusive participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities in project governance.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the ADB, Executive Director Satya Srinivas Lolla addressed the dual dynamics of Bangladesh's graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category and its persistent climate vulnerabilities.
"The true success of this conference will be determined not by the discussions, but by the actions and investments that follow," Lolla stressed, noting that turning ambition into reality requires substantial public and private capital. He stated that the BCDP serves as a unified vehicle to align financing, technical expertise, and institutional capacity for swift implementation.
The inaugural session brought together key leadership across government and international agencies. Attendees included 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.
Welcome remarks were delivered by Additional Secretary (Climate Change) Mohammad Navid Shafullah, while Acting Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Fahmida Khanom chaired the session.
The first day featured three strategic plenary sessions focusing on pathways to low-carbon growth, localized implementation and cost modeling for NAP 2023–2050, and Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) blended finance mechanisms for NDC 3.0.
The conference will conclude on Thursday (October 8) 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.