State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam made the call at a meeting with Diana Acconcia, the EU's director for international affairs and climate finance, on the sidelines of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye. The two sides discussed climate finance, energy transition, renewable energy and adaptation cooperation.
The state minister outlined Bangladesh's climate priorities and development plans. He said the government aims to generate 10,000 megawatts of electricity from solar power over the next five years and to plant 250 million trees in the same period, with 35 to 40 percent of them mangrove species.
The state minister also spoke of plans to modernize waste management, introduce electric buses and reduce air pollution from brick kilns. He proposed cyclone-resilient wind power projects in coastal areas and pointed to rising salinity and shortages of safe drinking water in coastal communities.
He sought EU support through climate finance, advanced technologies, technical expertise and investment in adaptation and renewable energy.
The EU official reaffirmed the bloc's commitment to the Paris Agreement and the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance. She said the annual $100 billion climate finance target has been met and that efforts are under way toward the new $300 billion target. She also referred to the proposed EU external budget for 2028-2034, which keeps a 50 percent target for climate and biodiversity-related activities.
She said the EU already supports Bangladesh's renewable energy development and the electrification of its railway network. On Bangladesh's proposal for coastal and offshore wind projects, she said she would brief colleagues in Brussels. She expressed interest in European companies investing in such projects, including financing under the EU guarantee framework.
The official said Bangladesh is among three countries selected for an advisory facility jointly financed by the EU and the European Investment Bank (EIB). The facility aims to help develop and prepare investment-ready climate adaptation projects.
Both sides agreed to maintain regular communication through the EU delegation in Dhaka.
