Working Paper Series
“From Vulnerability to Viability: Climate Policy, Development Planning, and Climate Finance Challenges in Bangladesh”
Citation: Raihan, S. and Raihan, H. (2026). From Vulnerability to Viability: Climate Policy, Development Planning, and Climate Finance Challenges in Bangladesh. SANEM-IFPRI Working Paper Series. SANEM Publications, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Abstract: Bangladesh faces an acute convergence of climate vulnerability and development pressure, with rising sea levels, cyclones, floods, salinity intrusion, and heat stress already eroding economic stability and threatening hard‑won gains in growth, poverty reduction, and human development. Although the country has built an advanced climate policy architecture, including the Delta Plan 2100, Climate Prosperity Plan, National Adaptation Plan, and NDC 3.0, a persistent gap remains between planning and implementation, especially in mainstreaming climate risk into public investment, strengthening national‑local coordination, and ensuring climate‑resilient infrastructure. The paper underscores that climate finance is the defining constraint: Bangladesh requires around USD 12.5 billion annually, far beyond domestic capacity, with most adaptation needs dependent on external support. Private investment remains underutilised, despite opportunities in renewable energy, green manufacturing, urban transport, and nature‑based solutions such as mangrove restoration. The paper argues that Bangladesh must build a coherent climate finance ecosystem, mobilise private capital, empower local governments, and treat nature as core infrastructure, while international partners must recognise climate finance as a matter of justice. Ultimately, Bangladesh’s development trajectory hinges on whether it can shift from vulnerability to viability through coordinated institutions, scaled finance, and disciplined implementation.
