ঢাকাবৃহস্পতিবার , ২৯ অক্টোবর ২০২৬
Ministry confirms annual pre-COP training and introduces stream-led teams pairing experienced negotiators with associate members.
The two-day Bangladesh Delegation Preparedness Programme–UNFCCC COP31 concluded today at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), Dhaka, marking the country’s first government-hosted, inter-ministerial formal training programme specifically focused on climate negotiators and COP negotiations.
Held on 27–28 October, the programme was organised by the National Institute of Environment and Climate Change (NIECC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), with KLIMA, a climate initiative of The Bangladesh Dialogue Foundation, as Strategic Partner.
The programme’s supporting partners were the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh; British High Commission Dhaka, through UK International Development; Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN); Climate Action at Local Level (CALL); HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation; Center for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD); Save the Children; and Nature Conservation Management (NACOM). Their collective support contributed to the delivery of the programme. Participation by the Department of Environment, technical experts and resource persons further enriched the initiative.
KLIMA, a climate initiative of The Bangladesh Dialogue Foundation, led the overall coordination and collaboration for the programme. As Strategic Partner, KLIMA played a central role in its preparation and delivery, coordinating engagement and cooperation among government institutions, development partners, national and international non-governmental organisations, experts and participants.
Recognising the programme’s effectiveness, MoEFCC confirmed that it will organise the initiative every year ahead of the COP conference. This commitment establishes a foundation for sustained institutional preparation, stronger coordination and continuity in Bangladesh’s engagement in international climate negotiations.
A stream-based team approach will also be introduced this year, with experienced negotiators leading teams supported by associate members. The associates will learn through direct engagement with stream leads while contributing to negotiation preparation and support. The approach is intended to preserve institutional knowledge, facilitate the transfer of experience and develop the next generation of skilled Bangladeshi negotiators.
The opening ceremony on 27 October was attended by Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, Additional Secretary, MoEFCC, as Chief Guest, and chaired by Monira Sultana, Joint Secretary, MoEFCC. Remarks were delivered by Dr S. M. Munjurul Hannan Khan, Executive Director of NACOM; Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman, Director General of BIISS; a representative of the British High Commission in Dhaka; Muhammad Solaiman Haydar, Additional Director General (Current Charge), Department of Environment; and Lisa-Tanita Greminger, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh.
Abdul Awal Mintoo, MP, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Dr Saimum Parvez, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, were unable to attend in person but conveyed their greetings and best wishes for the programme’s success.
The programme covered the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement negotiating processes, COP31 priorities, climate finance and the New Collective Quantified Goal, adaptation, resilience, loss and damage, mitigation, carbon markets and just transition. It also addressed climate diplomacy, coalition building, Bangladesh’s strategic positioning, international cooperation, and the inclusion of women, children and young people in climate action. Practical negotiation exercises formed part of the programme’s focus on translating technical knowledge into negotiation readiness.
Central messages included the importance of negotiating as one coordinated national team, developing evidence-based positions and clearly defining Bangladesh’s priorities, potential compromises and non-negotiable positions. Emphasis was placed on strengthening engagement with the Least Developed Countries Group, the G77 and China, regional partners and other climate-vulnerable countries. Success should be measured through the ability to influence decisions, strengthen partnerships and secure meaningful outcomes for Bangladesh.
The closing ceremony on 28 October was attended by Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, Additional Secretary, MoEFCC; A S M Marjan Nur, Climate and Environment Advisor, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); Monira Sultana, Joint Secretary, MoEFCC; and Kaji Rounukul Islam, Managing Director, Bangladesh Climate Change Trust.
A key highlight was the official unveiling of The Climate Negotiator’s Guide, a resource designed to equip negotiators with knowledge and practical insights for international climate negotiations.
The programme reinforced Bangladesh’s priorities for predictable and accessible climate finance, stronger implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation, and an effective Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. It also highlighted opportunities for cooperation on renewable energy, technology transfer, capacity building, just transition and credible carbon markets, alongside the advancement of climate justice.
The concluding messages stressed that preparation must extend beyond the two-day programme through continued knowledge sharing, technical coordination and the development of a lasting national pool of skilled negotiators. Contributions from the organisers, supporting institutions, development partners, resource persons, participants and the youth climate community were acknowledged.
The initiative concluded with a renewed commitment to connect international negotiations with national implementation needs and strengthen Bangladesh’s capacity to contribute solutions, build consensus and exercise regional and global leadership in climate action.
