The CDRI - 02 (2025): Bangladesh Report tells a powerful story about Bangladesh’s struggle to survive climate disasters while being pushed into debt to pay for its own recovery. It shows how a system meant to help vulnerable nations has instead created a cycle where resilience comes at the cost of borrowing, leaving people and public budgets under pressure. The report calls for a fundamental shift in climate finance from loans to grants so that countries like Bangladesh can p

The CDRI - 02 (2025) : Bangladesh Report tells a powerful story about Bangladesh’s struggle to survive climate disasters while being...

The NDC 3.0 study is crucial for Bangladesh to enhance its climate ambition in line with global targets, particularly focusing on the energy sector and renewable energy deployment. As Bangladesh faces severe climate vulnerability, an upgraded NDC can integrate both mitigation and adaptation strategies to secure a sustainable and resilient future. The study will provide a data-driven framework for setting more ambitious emission reduction targets, leveraging renewable energy a

Bangladesh’s NDC 3.0 – Ambition or Stagnation? Every climate promise must be stronger than the last. If we keep repeating the same weak pledges, how can we expect a safer future? In the next Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), Bangladesh has the chance to turn ambition into action, proving that climate justice is non-negotiable. But a staggering USD 316 billion finance gap threatens to turn ambition into illusion. Change Initiative calls for a decisive leap in Bang

The NDC 3.0 study is crucial for Bangladesh to enhance its climate ambition in line with global targets, particularly focusing on the energy sector and renewable energy deployment. As Bangladesh faces severe climate vulnerability, an upgraded NDC can integrate both mitigation and adaptation strategies to secure a sustainable and resilient future. The study will provide a data-driven framework for setting more ambitious emission reduction targets, leveraging renewable energy a

Once celebrated for its natural charm, Dhaka now stands at a critical juncture overwhelmed by relentless urban sprawl and ecological decay. This study traces the city's transformation from 1980 to 2024 through satellite imagery, land use analysis, and Land Surface Temperature (LST) trends, uncovering a dramatic decline in nature’s presence. Over this period, Dhaka lost nearly half of its tree cover, 60% of its waterbodies , and 56% of grass and agricultural land , while built

Dhaka Without Nature? Rethinking Natural Rights Led Urban Sustainability Dhaka, once a city of natural beauty, now stands at a crossroads, suffocating under the weight of rapid urbanization and ecological degradation. This research delves into the city's transformation from 1980 to 2024, using satellite imagery, land use analysis, and Land Surface Temperature (LST) data to explore the devastating loss of green spaces, water bodies, and agricultural land, all of which contribu

Every day, thousands of tonnes of plastic waste flow into Bangladesh’s rivers and coastlines, carried from upstream neighbors and washing ashore in fragile ecosystems like the Sundarbans mangrove forest. This relentless tide of pollution chokes waterways, endangers fisheries that feed millions, and threatens the health of coastal communities. The problem crosses borders, demanding more than national efforts — it calls for bold regional cooperation, corporate responsibility, a

This position paper titled “Cross-Border Plastic Pollution and its Impact on the Bay of Bengal” was released by the Change Initiative Research Team on World Environment Day , 5 June 2025 . It highlights the alarming influx of plastic waste into Bangladesh’s coastal ecosystems, primarily through transboundary rivers like the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna. The report examines the environmental, health, and economic consequences of marine plastic pollution, particularly in t

নবায়নযোগ্য জ্বালানির ব্যবহারে উৎসাহিত করতে বাংলাদেশে দ্বিতীয়বারের মতো “ নবায়নযোগ্য জ্বালানি বিষয়ক রিপোর্টিং পুরস্কার-২০২৫ ” চালু করতে...

Bangladesh faces grave risks from a potential nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan, despite not possessing nuclear weapons. Radioactive fallout could contaminate rivers, farmland, and ecosystems, triggering long-term health crises and ecological decline. As nuclear spending grows at the cost of social investment, Bangladesh remains geopolitically sidelined. The piece urges non-nuclear nations to develop alternative strategic tools—such as diplomatic leverage and techno

Policymakers, Experts and Stakeholders Urge Immediate Deferral Request for Bangladesh’s LDC Graduation, Citing Need for Credible Assessment and Public Mandate. DHAKA, Bangladesh - April 23, 2025 – A diverse coalition of national and international stakeholders, convened today by the Change Initiative think tank, strongly urged the Government of Bangladesh to submit a request for deferral of the country's graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category, currently sch

The Renewable Energy Project Database showcases solar initiatives across Bangladesh, highlighting project capacity, allocated...

M Zakir Hossain Khan , Chief Executive of Change Initiative, has been designated as a Civil Society Active Observer for the Strategic...

Climate Debt Risk Index 2024 The Climate Debt Risk Index (CDRI) 2024 presents a stark indictment of the deepening financial precarity faced by Least Developed Countries (LDCs), driven by a disproportionate reliance on debt-based climate finance. Despite contributing a mere 3.3% to global carbon emissions, LDCs struggle with mounting climate debt, with their debt service tripling between 2011 and 2019. Post-pandemic projections indicate an unsustainable annual burden exceedi

In a world that is rapidly changing, where the challenges we face seem insurmountable, there is one simple truth: the failure to act is, in itself, an act of failure. This is not just a failure of leadership or policy—it is a failure of humanity’s collective responsibility to create a better world for ourselves and future generations. The most profound failures in history often stem not from misguided action, but from inaction. The refusal to acknowledge pressing issues, the

In a significant move towards climate justice, Change Initiative (CI) introduced the ‘Climate Debt Risk INDEX 2024’, a Groundbreaking...

Climate change presents an urgent global challenge requiring immediate action, especially in vulnerable regions like Bangladesh and other Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Mobilizing and allocating climate finance is crucial for supporting mitigation and adaptation efforts. However, the climate finance debt trap poses significant concerns, as countries face difficulties repaying climate-related loans while still needing to invest in resilience. This roundtable discussion will

Overview Build on flagship initiatives such as the Paris Pact for People and Planet (4P), Bridgetown Initiative, Accra Marrakesh Agenda, G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, and African Leaders’ Nairobi Declaration on Climate and Call to Action. Moreover, accelerating the mobilization and deployment of climate finance from all sources, underscoring the importance of finance that is available, accessible, and affordable, particularly for the most vulnerable. Review the decision

Introduction The energy sector is critical to Bangladesh’s economic growth and environmental sustainability. Recent developments, including changes in government and policy directions, underscore the need for a comprehensive strategy to address energy challenges. Under the leadership of Professor Muhammad Yunus, the Interim Government aims to achieve “three zeros”: zero net carbon emissions, zero wealth concentration to end poverty, and zero unemployment. Professor Yunus, a N

Overview Bangladesh faces a severe plastic pollution crisis, fueled by a rapid increase in plastic consumption and inadequate waste management infrastructure. The country’s per capita plastic use has tripled in the last 15 years, with urban areas experiencing even higher consumption rates. Despite existing regulations like the ban on thin plastic shopping bags in 2002 and the Jute Packaging Act of 2010, plastic waste continues to accumulate in landfills, waterways, and the Ba

Introduction Dhaka, along with the rest of Bangladesh, faces a critical pollution crisis that demands immediate and decisive action. Air and plastic pollution are severely impacting public health, the environment, and the economy. While the government has taken some steps to address these issues, a lack of effective implementation, insufficient monitoring, and a fragmented waste management system have hindered progress. This policy brief outlines key recommendations for the M

Bangladesh’s solar power sector is mired in rent-seeking practices and elite capture, inflating costs and distorting solar market efficiency. Our analysis shows that the true levelized cost of electricity (LCoE) for solar should be approximately 5.78 cents/kWh , yet government-sanctioned solar tariffs are nearly double , reflecting regulatory capture and energy sector corruption. Land acquisition costs, a critical factor in solar project feasibility, are systematically manipu

Background Bangladesh, a deltaic nation situated at the confluence of major rivers originating in neighboring countries, is inherently vulnerable to flooding. The average annual flood-affected area is around 20–25% of the country’s landmass, (Monirul Qader Mirza, 2002)and an average of over 5 million people are affected by floods every year (Zayed et al., 2024) The average number of annual deaths due to floods is over 100. However, the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate