Staff Correspondent

Environment, Forests and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today stressed the need for coordination among local, national, bilateral, multilateral financial institutions (MFIs) and development partners to access climate finance.

Speaking at an event titled 'The Feasibility of Establishing NGO-MFI Resource Pools in Bangladesh for Loss and Damage' at world climate meet - COP29 being held in Baku of Azerbaijan, she said: "Effective resource pooling is crucial to bridging financial gaps and achieving our development goals."

Later, at another COP29 session titled 'Climate Crisis: Women and Water Governance in Bangladesh', Syeda Rizwana Hasan highlighted the critical need to address gender justice in climate policies.

"As one of the world's most vulnerable nations, we must advocate for justice -not only in policy stances but in how justice is perceived. Justice for the planet and humanity are intrinsically linked," she noted.

She called for documenting women's climate struggles, engaging policymakers, and fostering gender-sensitive laws and policies.

"Women are not just victims of climate change - they are agents of change. Their voices must be heard, their perspectives valued, and their leadership recognized at negotiation tables," Rizwana asserted.

At another event, 'Mobilizing Private Sector Climate Finance: Challenges and Opportunities', the environment adviser discussed the pivotal role of the private sector in addressing climate finance gaps.

She also participated in a bilateral meeting with the Director-General of Climate, European Commission, at the Bangladesh Pavilion, underscoring Bangladesh's commitment to enhancing global partnerships for climate resilience.