Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on world leaders to turn their climate commitments into concrete actions to protect millions of lives threatened by climate change. Speaking on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum’s 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, China, he urged that promises be translated into results so the world can face the future with confidence. He expressed hope that COP-31 would address these challenges and reaffirmed Bangladesh’s readiness to play its part.

Rahman emphasized that climate action should be viewed as an investment in prosperity and stability, not as a cost. He outlined three priorities ahead of COP-31 and COP-32: operationalizing the loss and damage fund, making climate finance more accessible to vulnerable nations, and ensuring adaptation alongside mitigation. He highlighted Bangladesh’s initiatives, including dredging 20,000 kilometers of rivers and canals, constructing the Padma Barrage, modernizing the Teesta Barrage, planting 250 million trees, and expanding renewable energy to 20 percent by 2030.

He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to becoming a climate-resilient nation and called on global leaders to overcome differences and honor their pledges under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement.