Ahead of the 30th UN Climate Summit (COP30), experts at a Pre-COP30 dialogue in Dhaka have called for an urgent scale-up of climate finance to support wetlands restoration.
COP30, held under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), will bring together nearly 200 countries to negotiate climate policies, set emissions targets, and mobilise funding for climate solutions.
Youth leaders and representatives from Korail’s Nogor Abad Cooperative also emphasised the importance of locally led adaptation and inclusive community engagement in addressing climate challenges.
The dialogue, titled “Financing Nature: Wetlands as Climate Solutions,” was organized on Sunday by YouthNet Global under the ReWET Consortium, part of the UK-funded Reversing Environmental Degradation in Africa and Asia (REDAA) program, said a media release on Monday.
AKM Sohel, additional secretary and UN Wing Chief (ERD), International Climate Finance Cell, Ministry of Finance, said nature must be central to Bangladesh’s climate strategy ahead of COP30 in Belém.
“Funds like the Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, concessional loans, and green bonds should be explored to finance wetlands,” he said.
Dr. Suborna Barua, professor of Finance at the University of Dhaka, called for recognizing wetlands as natural infrastructure with measurable financial returns. “If we frame wetland restoration in terms of economic value and risk mitigation, it will be easier to mobilize both public and private investments,” he said.
Sohanur Rahman, executive coordinator of YouthNet Global, said, “Our youth and community leaders are proving that climate solutions must be people-led. COP30 is an opportunity for Bangladesh to show the world that investing in wetlands means investing in our shared future.”
The panel discussion on “Unlocking Climate Finance for Wetlands” was a key highlight. It was moderated by Farah Anzum, Bangladesh Lead for Strategic Communication – Energy and Climate at GSCC. The session was chaired by AKM Sohel, with Chowdhury Liakat Ali, Director of the Sustainable Finance Division at Bangladesh Bank, serving as co-chair.
Panelists discussed the urgent need for financial system reform. While $384 billion is needed globally for nature-based solutions, Bangladesh still lacks a national estimate for biodiversity financing.
They suggested green bonds, debt-for-nature swaps, and a Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)-styled taskforce to unlock climate finance.
Dr. Mohammad Emran Hasan, head of Climate Justice and Natural Resource Rights (CJNRR) at Oxfam Bangladesh, said, “Bangladesh has practiced nature-based solutions since 1961, such as mangrove restoration. Finance must prioritize vulnerable communities and adopt a justice-centered approach.”
Tashmeem Muntazir Chowdhury, head of ESG & Sustainable Finance Division at BRAC Bank Limited, emphasized, “To scale nature finance, we need green bonds, supportive policies, and stronger governance in the banking sector.”
Dr. Haseeb M. Irfanullah, Independent Consultant on Environment, Climate Change, & Research System, said, “Nature finance must move beyond the mitigation frame and adopt a justice lens, rather than focusing only on adaptation or loss and damage.”
Chowdhury Liakat Ali highlighted ongoing sustainable finance initiatives and encouraged private banks to invest in nature-based solutions.
Dr. Tanzil Shafique, architect and researcher at the University of Sheffield, said wetlands should be part of social and urban infrastructure, connecting people, nature, and justice. Sifullah Khaled, Assistant Professor at Sheffield Hallam University, highlighted the urgency of mobilizing finance for wetlands as part of Bangladesh’s broader climate strategy.
The dialogue resulted in three key outcomes: the launch of a COP30 Policy Brief on Nature Finance, a call to establish a Dhaka Wetland Restoration Trust Fund, and a commitment to strengthening coalitions that connect communities, youth, government, and financial institutions.