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The report finds that granting legal personhood to rivers is a symbolic starting point that often fails to produce material ecological recovery due to fragmented governance, anthropocentric interpretations, and the marginalization of local knowledge. In Bangladesh, a state-led guardianship model lacks enforcement power and community representation, while Colombia's shared guardianship model incorporates biocultural knowledge but remains constrained by financial limitations and sectoral fragmentation.

The report discloses the environmental and social status of a subproject to expand textile fabric production capacity at Paramount Textile PLC in Gazipur, Bangladesh. Classified as GCF Category B, the project includes an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), both disclosed on 24 February 2026 in Bangla and English. The document confirms that no Land Acquisition and Resettlement Action Plan (LARAP) or Indigenous Peoples Plan (IPP) is required because the expansion occurs on vacant land owned by the company and no indigenous communities were identified in the project influence area.

Air pollution is the second deadliest risk for children under five globally, causing over 709,000 deaths in 2021. Children are more vulnerable due to developing immune systems and higher breathing rates. The burden is heavily skewed by economic disparity, with children in the least-developed countries facing death rates 94 times higher than those in the most-developed nations. The document highlights how structural lock-ins to fossil fuels and polluting land-use practices drive this crisis, noting that less than 1% of fossil fuel subsidies were spent on outdoor air quality between 2018 and 2022. Case studies in South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria, and Bangladesh illustrate the specific drivers—such as coal power, biomass burning, brick kilns, and oil extraction—that contribute to high child mortality and lifelong developmental impairments.

The document details the environmental and social safeguard (ESS) compliance and disclosure process for the Resilient Homestead and Livelihood Support to the Vulnerable Coastal People of Bangladesh (RHL) programme. Managed by the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), the programme is classified as ESS Category B. It outlines the disclosure of the Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) and the Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework (IPPF) in English and Bangla to ensure accessibility for affected populations in several coastal districts of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has significantly increased its reliance on imported LNG to meet rising electricity demand as domestic gas reserves decline, but this has left the country vulnerable to global price volatility and supply shocks. This reliance has led to widespread power cuts, industrial losses, and increased electricity costs, while renewable energy growth has stagnated, accounting for only 2% of electricity generation by 2022. The report warns that continued investment in gas infrastructure risks creating stranded assets and exacerbating climate change, to which Bangladesh is highly vulnerable. Specifically, heat stress is projected to cause significant GDP losses and labour productivity declines by 2030. The document argues that scaling up solar and wind power is a cheaper, more reliable alternative that would reduce financial risk and climate vulnerability.

The report argues that the rapid deployment of renewable energy in the Global South often mirrors the destructive patterns of the fossil fuel era, leading to 'green grabbing' and 'energy colonialism'. Through case studies, it demonstrates how mega-solar projects in India and lithium mining in Argentina displace communities and deplete water resources, while political obstacles and outdated grids hinder decentralized energy access in Bangladesh and Palestine. The document advocates for a feminist energy transition centered on energy sovereignty, small-scale decentralized technology, and the protection of land and water rights.

The report argues that the rapid deployment of renewable energy in the Global South often mirrors the harms of the fossil fuel era, leading to 'green grabbing' and 'green energy colonialism'. Through case studies, it documents the displacement of rural and pastoral communities in India, the impact of Israeli occupation on energy sovereignty in Palestine, political apathy toward decentralized solar in Bangladesh, and the ecological threats posed by lithium extraction in Argentina. It emphasizes that without community control, gender equality, and rigorous environmental oversight, the energy transition risks sacrificing the rights of marginalized peoples for a perceived global collective interest.

The report argues that the rapid scale-up of renewables in the Global South often replicates 'energy colonialism' and 'green grabbing,' where land and resources are appropriated for climate goals while host communities suffer from loss of livelihoods, water scarcity, and continued energy poverty. Through case studies in India, Palestine, Bangladesh, and Argentina, it highlights systemic barriers including patriarchal structures that exclude women from decision-making, outdated grid infrastructure, and a lack of effective environmental impact assessments. It recommends a shift toward small-scale, socially controlled, and decentralized renewable energy that prioritizes human rights and ecological conservation over corporate profit.

The report argues that while Bangladesh must transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy, this process must be 'just' to avoid harming vulnerable groups. It examines three key sectors: the ready-made garments (RMG) sector, which faces environmental and labour rights challenges; the energy sector, which is shifting from fossil fuels to renewables; and the agricultural sector, which is highly vulnerable to climate change and shifting toward commercial agribusiness. The document emphasizes that a just transition requires inclusive stakeholder dialogue, reskilling of workers, gender-sensitive policies, and increased international climate finance to support social protection and infrastructure.

The report examines the necessity of a 'just transition' in Bangladesh, focusing on the energy, agriculture, and ready-made garment (RMG) sectors. It highlights that while Bangladesh has various climate policies, they often lack a focus on the social impacts on marginalized populations. The document identifies specific vulnerabilities in the RMG sector (water pollution and labor rights), the energy sector (dependence on fossil fuels and air pollution), and agriculture (climate-induced crop loss and land insecurity). It recommends integrating social justice, inclusive education, and targeted financial support into climate strategies to prevent further marginalization of women, youth, and poor workers during the green transition.

The report argues that while Bangladesh must transition to a low-carbon economy to combat extreme climate vulnerability, this process must be 'just' to avoid marginalizing vulnerable workers and communities. It examines three key sectors: the ready-made garments (RMG) sector, which contributes 12% of GDP but faces severe environmental and labor issues; the energy sector, which is heavily dependent on gas (60%) and oil (30%) but aims for 30% renewable energy; and the agricultural sector, where 48.4% of the population is employed and faces significant losses from cyclones and sea-level rise. The document emphasizes that a just transition requires cross-ministerial coordination, reskilling programs, inclusive education, and expanded climate finance to support those displaced by green reforms.

The document defines Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as actions to protect, manage, and restore ecosystems to address societal challenges while providing biodiversity and human well-being benefits. It identifies a lack of specific NbS frameworks in South Asia but notes that existing national laws and policies in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal provide a foundation for their mainstreaming. The report categorizes NbS into five IUCN-based approaches: ecosystem restoration, issue-specific ecosystem-related, infrastructure-related, ecosystem-based management, and ecosystem-protection. It details 15 urban case studies, including the Yamuna Biodiversity Park in New Delhi, the restoration of riverine areas in Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar, and the Green Lumbini Initiative in Nepal, highlighting the role of multidisciplinary partnerships and community engagement in achieving ecological and socio-economic resilience.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of the climate finance landscape in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, detailing the mechanisms used to fund climate action. It analyzes the roles of multilateral funds (such as the GCF and GEF), bilateral aid, national budgets, and emerging private sector instruments like green bonds and blended finance. The document highlights significant funding gaps, particularly for adaptation, and recommends strengthening institutional frameworks, adopting climate budget tagging, and improving technical capacity to develop bankable projects.

The analysis examines how the expansion of built-up areas at the expense of natural heat sinks like green spaces and water bodies increases urban heat risks in major cities across the Critical 9 countries. Using Copernicus Land Monitoring Service data and the IPCC's SSP1-1.9 scenario, the report details specific land-use losses in cities such as Shanghai, Karachi, and Dhaka, linking these changes to increased vulnerability to dangerous heat days (above 35°C) and rising energy demands for active cooling.

The study identifies fuel type, kitchen volume, cooking methods, and ventilation as the primary drivers of in-kitchen particulate matter exposure in low-income homes across 12 global cities. The highest concentrations were found in Dhaka, driven by small kitchen size and extensive frying, while the lowest were in Medellín. The research highlights that charcoal use significantly increases PM2.5 levels compared to natural gas or LPG, and that dual ventilation (mechanical and natural) is more effective at reducing pollutants than natural ventilation alone.

The document details the application of reflective cool roofs in Bangladesh and Indonesia, demonstrating significant reductions in indoor and surface temperatures for low-income housing and industrial facilities.

The 2021 State of Cities Climate Finance report finds that annual urban climate finance averaged USD 384 billion in 2017/2018, which is significantly lower than the estimated annual need of USD 4.5 to 5.4 trillion. Investment is heavily concentrated in OECD countries and China, leaving developing regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia severely underfunded. The report emphasizes a critical gap in adaptation and resilience finance, which accounts for less than 10% of urban climate finance. To bridge this gap, the report recommends strengthening municipal finance capacities, aligning city and national climate policies, and utilizing innovative financial instruments like blended finance and green procurement.

The report finds that urban adaptation finance is significantly underfunded, representing only 3-5% of total global adaptation flows, with an estimated annual investment of up to USD 3.7 billion against a projected need of USD 11-20 billion for urban infrastructure protection. Analysis of the Global Landscape of Climate Finance, World Bank PPI, and CDP Cities data reveals a heavy concentration of funding in the water and wastewater sectors and a geographic bias toward East Asia and the Pacific, particularly China. Key barriers to scaling finance include limited DFI mandates for sub-national investment, poor municipal creditworthiness, and a lack of standardized outcome metrics for private investors. The report recommends developing practitioner case study databases, improving urban boundary tracking, and expanding DFI mandates to work directly with cities.

The report 'Together for Safety 21 Ways Forward' outlines strategies for urban leaders to combat extremism and polarisation, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. It identifies trends such as the 'gamification of extremism' and the use of conspiracy theories by right-wing and jihadist groups to target minorities and youth. The document provides 21 guiding principles across four themes: preventing extremism post-pandemic, countering online hate, securing public spaces, and empowering youth. Key recommendations include adopting evidence-based 'hot spot mapping', investing in youth-led organisations, and strengthening mental health initiatives to build community resilience.

The paper analyzes how Bangladesh, Malabon City (Philippines), and Cartagena (Colombia) have integrated climate adaptation into coastal development to bridge the 'implementation gap' between planning and action. It identifies key success factors including political will, legislative mandates, access to credible climate data, and the allocation of domestic funding. While Bangladesh has seen significant reductions in cyclone casualties and Colombia has leveraged private sector leadership, challenges such as political instability, fragmented information, and insufficient funding persist across the studied regions.