Civil society organisation (CSO) leaders today urged the government to adopt a self-reliant climate plan to combat the impacts of climate change.

At a press conference titled “COP29 Outcome: Bangladesh Should Focus on Self-Dependent Climate Planning,” they criticised the global pledge of $300 billion as inadequate and argued it would foster unhealthy competition among developing countries, leaving Bangladesh in a challenging position due to limited readiness, skills, and negotiation prospects. The event was held at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity.

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury from EquityBD moderated the session, while Md Abul Hasan from the COAST Foundation presented the keynote address.

Abul Hasan criticised the $300 billion annual agreement as insufficient, far below the $1.3 trillion MVCs expected. He said it failed to provide a clear framework or modalities for developing and climate-vulnerable nations. He recommended that Bangladesh focus on combating climate impacts independently of global support, review and update existing strategic climate plans using local resources and participatory, demand-driven approaches, and avoid making overly ambitious revisions to the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the upcoming global stock-take at COP30 in 2025.

He also highlighted the shortcomings of the COP29 negotiations. He said that the interests and demands of the most vulnerable countries (MVCs) were ignored, particularly in closing the gap between mitigation and adaptation financing and addressing non-economic losses under Loss and Damage Financing (LDF).

Md. Shamsuddoha of the Centre for Participatory Research & Development (CPRD) said that COP29 undermined the 1.5 degree Celsius target by neglecting the transition from fossil fuels and shifting responsibilities onto developing nations.

Md. Kawsar Rahaman of Bangladesh Climate Journalists Forum (BCJF) criticised developed countries for promoting profit-driven climate financing through private sector involvement and multilateral development banks (MDBs). He urged unification against such practices and demanded grant-based financing for MVCs.

Rezaul Karim criticised consultancy- and loan-dependent climate plans, citing the Delta Plan 2030 as a concerning example. He urged the government to review all development and climate-related plans using local knowledge and resources.

Jahangir Hossen Masum from the Coastal Development Partnership (CDP), Motahar Hossen from the Bangladesh Climate Journalist Forum (BCJF) spoke at the event, among others.