Climate-health plan needs $1.4 billion over five years, study finds

Bangladesh needs about Tk 17,000 crore (about US$1.4 billion) to carry out its Health National Adaptation Plan for 2026-2031, according to a study by BRAC University’s Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) released in Dhaka on 17 October.

The plan is meant to protect people from extreme heat, climate-sensitive diseases, unsafe water and disruptions to essential health services, The Business Standard reported.

Where the money would come from

US$520 million from development partners
US$380 million from domestic public financing
US$360 million from health-related investment in other sectors
US$140 million from international climate finance

The study presents these figures as targets, not confirmed commitments. Domestic and cross-sector sources would cover about 53% of the total.

Bar chart: proposed financing for the Health National Adaptation Plan 2026-2031. Development partners $520 million, domestic public financing $380 million, health-related investment in other sectors $360 million, international climate finance $140 million. — Graphic: Devlens Bangladesh. Source: BRAC University C3ER study, 17 October 2026.

Four priorities take most of the budget

Four areas account for US$966 million, or 69% of the framework:

US$350 million for resilient, low-carbon health infrastructure, technologies and supply chains
US$266 million for integrated risk monitoring, early warning and emissions tracking
US$210 million for a climate-smart health workforce
US$140 million for leadership and governance

Prof Iqbal Kabir, director of the Centre for Climate Change and Public Health, said the funding was needed to implement the plan and reduce the health effects of climate change. Ainun Nishat, emeritus professor at BRAC University and adviser to C3ER, said climate-related health risks must be built into development planning and financing.

Why it matters

Almost half of the plan’s money is expected to come from outside the national budget. The study names the World Bank, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, WHO and UNFPA among development partners, and the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund and the Least Developed Countries Fund among climate funds. Organisations working on health, WASH and climate resilience can use the plan’s four priorities to shape proposals and partnerships.

What to watch

Whether the health ministry, the Economic Relations Division and the Planning Commission build the plan into budgets, and whether development partners make firm commitments against the US$520 million target.

Main image: an illustration generated with Google Gemini. It is not a photograph.