The proposed budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 includes a significant allocation for climate action in Bangladesh. As climate impacts continue to escalate, the country has been actively integrating climate-responsive budgeting practices across various ministries and increasing funding for adaptation efforts. With a proposed climate budget of approximately Tk 51,746 crore, representing a more than 25 percent increase from the previous fiscal year, it demonstrates a sustained commitment to addressing climate issues.
Despite contributing less than one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Bangladesh remains one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. The focus on adaptation measures is crucial, with nearly 75 percent of the allocated funds designated for initiatives such as flood control, embankments, climate-resilient agriculture, water management, and social protection. This highlights the climate sensitivity of the proposed budget.
Yet, a critical consideration is whether the budget is also climate-just. Beyond the amount of investment, it is essential to examine who benefits from climate spending, who bears the costs of adaptation, and whose efforts contribute to building resilience.
Addressing adequacy is paramount. Climate-related expenses are estimated to reach around $3 billion annually in Bangladesh, equivalent to approximately one to two percent of the GDP. However, public expenditure on climate remains below one percent of GDP, including in the proposed budget, revealing a significant shortfall compared to the long-term adaptation needs.
The National Adaptation Plan for the period 2023-2050 estimates that Bangladesh will require approximately $230 billion for adaptation by 2050, translating to an annual need of $8.5 billion. Despite the increased budget allocations, there persists a considerable financing gap that hampers effective climate action.
Moreover, the production of climate resilience extends beyond traditional investments in infrastructure and disaster management systems. A deeper analysis reveals the crucial but often overlooked role of women and girls in sustaining climate resilience through their unpaid and undervalued labor.
Women bear the brunt of climate impacts, from collecting water during floods to caring for family members and managing household recovery after disasters. This unpaid care work, essential for community resilience, remains invisible in budgetary considerations and policy frameworks.
Recognizing and valuing this care work is not just a gender issue but a core aspect of effective adaptation strategies. Investments in essential services like safe water systems, healthcare, childcare, and social protection can alleviate the burden of unpaid care work while enhancing adaptive capacities, making them integral components of climate resilience initiatives.
Furthermore, climate impacts exacerbate existing gender disparities, exposing women to heightened vulnerabilities such as violence, exploitation, and health risks in climate-affected regions. Aligning climate budgeting with Bangladesh’s Climate Change Gender Action Plan (CCGAP) 2023, which emphasizes women’s leadership in climate governance and gender equality integration, is crucial to addressing these challenges.
To enhance climate justice and effectiveness, it is imperative to track gender-responsive climate budgeting, support local adaptation efforts led by women, and invest in reducing unpaid care burdens in climate-affected areas. By acknowledging and incorporating the invaluable contributions of women and girls in climate policy and budgeting, Bangladesh can bolster its resilience and ensure a more equitable and sustainable future.
