SB62 refers to the 62nd session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies, a critical negotiation platform being held in Bonn, Germany. It sets the stage for defining new global climate finance structures and commitments.
The 62nd session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies has opened in Bonn, Germany, bringing climate finance to the forefront of global discussions. For a country like Bangladesh, this is not merely a policy debate. It is a matter of survival.
Bangladesh contributes only a fraction to global carbon emissions. Yet it remains one of the most climate-vulnerable nations in the world. Each year, cyclones, floods, rising salinity, extreme heat, and freshwater scarcity affect millions of lives and disrupt economic progress. These realities demand that climate finance go beyond political promises. It must translate into meaningful and timely support for those on the front lines.
A new global climate finance goal is now under negotiation. The previous commitment made in Copenhagen in 2009 to mobilize 100 billion US dollars annually by the year 2020 remains unmet. Bangladesh is calling for a new target that is not only ambitious but also accessible and grounded in equity. Funding must reach the local governments, institutions, and communities already working to adapt and build resilience.
Bangladesh's participation at SB62 must be strategic rather than symbolic. This is a moment to assert policy leadership, particularly on how global finance should be structured and delivered in the years ahead.
There are clear steps Bangladesh can take:
First, the country should advocate that at least 50 percent of new climate finance is allocated to adaptation. For Bangladesh, adaptation is not optional. It is a lifeline.
Second, access to climate finance must be simplified. Direct and transparent channels should empower national and local institutions to receive funding without unnecessary complexity.
Third, Bangladesh should strongly advocate for finance that is based on grants rather than loans. Climate-vulnerable countries should not accumulate debt to address problems they did not cause.
Fourth, the Loss and Damage Fund must be implemented with clear procedures and timely disbursement. Bangladesh should call for a framework that ensures affected communities receive fair and dignified compensation.
Fifth, Bangladesh should showcase its own innovations. Initiatives such as the Climate Change Trust Fund and community-led adaptation projects reflect a readiness to act and scale up solutions with international support.
Last but not least, the country's delegation should include voices from youth, women, and civil society. A people-centered approach ensures credibility and strengthens global solidarity.
Bangladesh must also work in coalition with other vulnerable states through the Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group and the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF). A united voice can carry more weight in the design of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) and in the overall climate finance structure.
SB62 is more than a technical preparatory meeting. It is a political opportunity. Bangladesh has the experience, urgency, and legitimacy to shape what comes next. This is a chance to champion justice, transparency, and delivery.
Climate finance is not generosity. It is a right that must be upheld.
The writer is a Supreme Court lawyer and the founder of the Global Law Thinkers Society, an international organization working on green finance, human rights, peacebuilding, and youth leadership across borders
