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 manipula

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

বিশ্ব ব্যাংকের মতে, বায়ু, অনিরাপদ পানি, বাজে পয়ঃনিষ্কাশনের মতো দূষণের কারণে প্রতি বছর বাংলাদেশে ২ লাখ ৭২ হাজার মানুষের অকাল মৃত্যু হচ্ছে। পরিবেশগত অবক্ষয়ের কারণে বাংলাদেশের মোট দেশজ উৎপাদনের প্রায় ১৭.৮% হ্রাস পাচ্ছে (বিশ্বব্যাংক, ২০১৯)। ইউনিসেফ এর মতে, বায়ু দূষণের কারণে ২০২১ সালেই প্রায় ২ লাখ ৩৫ হাজার মানুষ মৃত্যুবরণ করেছে এবং গত ১০ বছরে এ হার বেড়েছে ৫৪%; পানি দূষণ ও স্যানিটেশনের অভাবে অকাল মৃত্যুর হার যথাক্রমে ২০% ও ২৬% বেড়েছে। শুধু তাই নয়, গ্লোবাল ক্লাইমেট রিস্ক ইন

On June 22, 2024, Change Initiative held a press conference titled “Green Economy and Views on Climate, Environment, Disaster Management, and Renewable Energy in the Proposed Budget for the Fiscal Year 2024–25,” emphasizing the need for a transition to Sustainable Prosperity 2050. The discussion highlighted that Bangladesh’s climate-related funding in the proposed FY 2024–25 budget is critically low, with only 100 crores allocated for renewable energy out of the required 3,08

2nd Dhaka Renewable Energy and Finance Talk (DREFT2) Promo Video As part of the Renewable Energy Week, Change Initiative organised 2nd Dhaka Renewable Energy and Finance Talk (DREFT2) 2024, on 1st June 2024, which aimed to facilitate discussions and debates on crucial aspects of renewable energy, addressing challenges, opportunities, and innovative solutions in the field. Relevant Documents Reflection

Executive Summary This particular study aims to assess the current status of solar-based net metering systems in Bangladesh and explore their potential for driving a renewable energy transition. The specific objectives included examining the current status of net solar system installations, evaluating the cost-benefit of implementing net-meter based solar systems in industrial premises, and exploring the scalability of such installations in Export Processing Zones (EPZs). Des

Change Initiative (CI) hosted a Roundtable Discussion titled, ‘Solar Net Metering in Bangladesh with a Focus on Export Processing Zones (EPZs): Prospects, Challenges and Scaling’ to explore the role of solar net metering in advancing Bangladesh’s transition to renewable energy. The event focused on CI’s research findings from the report “Solar Net Metering: Status, Prospects, and Scaling Challenges,” emphasizing the potential for scaling up solar net metering systems within E

Background Plastic waste is accumulating in natural environments, causing long-term damage to ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. The widespread use of single-use plastics, driven by their affordability and convenience, contributes to the enormous amount of plastic waste generated. However, only a small percentage of plastic is recycled globally. Governments, organizations, and individuals are taking measures to combat plastic pollution, including improving waste manageme

Introduction Situated at the deltaic confluence of three great Asian rivers—the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna—the Sundarbans is a testament to nature’s resilience and complexity. Spanning approximately 10,000 square kilometers (about half the area of New Jersey), this labyrinthine network of tidal waterways, mudflats, and small islands is predominantly situated in Bangladesh, with a smaller portion extending into India. The topographic and ecological uniqueness of this area

Executive Summary Bangladesh has a target of generating 40% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2041, as per the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan (MCPP). However, as of the publication of the report, Bangladesh ranks 111 out of 190 countries in renewable energy usage; achieved only 4.59% of renewable energy with installed capacity of 461 MW of renewable energy capacity, mainly from solar power, and has planned another 4115 MW of projects in various stages of development

Dhaka’s severe traffic congestion, declining air quality, and rising CO₂ emissions present urgent challenges for sustainable urban mobility. This paper conducts a political economy analysis (PEA) of fuel-efficient vehicle (FEV) promotion in the capital, where transport contributes 14% of national GHG emissions. With an average car speed dropping to 7 km/h and 3.2 million working hours lost daily—translating to an annual economic loss of USD 2.68 billion—the inefficiencies of

Overview Ecopreneurship is a term coined to represent the process of principles of entrepreneurship being applied to create businesses that solve environmental problems or operate sustainably. The term began to be widely used in the 1990s, and it is otherwise referred to as “environmental entrepreneurship.“ In the book Merging Economic and Environmental Concerns Through Ecopreneurship, written by Gwyn Schuyler in 1998, ecopreneurs are defined as follows: “Ecopreneurs are entr

Overview South Asian nations have been grappling with the devastating consequences of climate change, including floods, cyclones, heatwaves, and declining agricultural productivity. The economic toll of these climate-induced disasters is staggering, with projections indicating that South Asia could face losses of USD 997 billion by 2070. The need for urgent and effective action cannot be overstated. Per capita climate finance allocation for South Asian nations ranges from US$

Executive Summary In recent years, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has portrayed itself as a climate champion through its flagship research publications, staff policy papers, public-facing factsheets, and speeches. But what does its track-record reveal when it comes to its most consequential activity: lending to countries in crisis in exchange for policy reforms? This report examines the evidence from recent IMF loans to Bangladesh and Uganda, as well as additional IMF

Overview The global energy crisis and the impact of climate change require a shift towards renewable and sustainable energy sources. Bangladesh is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and needs to mitigate its effect by reducing fossil fuel reliance and developing renewable energy sources. Currently, only 3.75% of Bangladesh’s total electricity generation capacity is from renewable sources (as per SREDA), falling short of the policy target of 10% of energy sourced from