Bangladesh and Japan are preparing to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) under which Japan will support Bangladesh's environmental initiatives Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said on Sunday.
"The upcoming agreement as a significant milestone toward long-term bilateral environmental cooperation," she described while addressing a workshop titled 'Business Forum on Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) Project Matchmaking and Advancing Article 6 Implementation in Bangladesh' at the Department of Environment, organised in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.
Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said carbon trading mechanisms must function simultaneously as investment channels, technology transfer instruments, and mitigation tools.
"Even if we receive full adaptation financing, we cannot guarantee protection of our coastal regions unless mitigation is strengthened," she stated, adding that adaptation has clear limits, making mitigation the ultimate pathway to long-term resilience.
She welcomed the revised JCM rules aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and noted Bangladesh's pre-launch of its first national carbon market framework during COP30.
Highlighting Bangladesh's updated NDC commitments-6.39 per cent unconditional emission reduction and an additional 13.92 per cent conditional reduction by 2035- she urged the Department of Environment to promptly develop an implementation roadmap.
"Submitting NDCs is not enough; an action plan must support them," she stressed, asking relevant ministries to deliver sector-specific execution plans.
Calling for strong private sector participation, she noted that export-oriented industries accelerate sustainability transformation when supply-chain requirements demand compliance.
The adviser said the framework provides regulatory clarity, guidance on authorisation procedures, and a predictable platform for international investors.
She called for further stakeholder consultations ahead of finalisation, emphasising that vulnerable communities must not be left outside policy and project decision-making.
Rizwana urged private entities to develop innovative solutions that look beyond tree-plantation CSR and support renewable energy expansion, energy efficiency, resilient agriculture, and nature-based solutions.
She also advised caution regarding waste-to-energy projects, underscoring the need for advanced technology, strict third-party monitoring, compliance assurance, proper site selection, and public disclosure of performance data.
Commenting on the prolonged nature of global climate negotiations, she said Bangladesh-being repeatedly affected by climate-induced disasters-cannot wait indefinitely for meaningful cooperation.
She remarked that inadequate support from developed countries undermines developing nations' adaptation capacity.
