Environmentalists, politicians and climate activists at a seminar on Sunday called for an increase in the 2022–23 budgetary allocation for tackling climate change and ensuring sustainable economic development.

They also urged the government to include coastal infrastructure as a prioritised investment sector to build a sustainable and climate resilient economy.

Three non-government organisations — the Coast Foundation, the Centre for Participatory Research and Development and the Coastal Development Partnership — jointly organised the seminar at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital on Sunday.

Coastal Association for Social Transformation Trust director Aminul Islam in his key note presentation said that the government had allocated Tk 30,531 crore — only 4.5 per cent of the total proposed budget of Tk 6,78,064 crore and 0.69 per cent of GDP — for tackling climate change.

‘We urge the government to increase the budgetary allocation to 2 per cent of GDP for tackling climate change,’ he added.

He also demanded adequate allocation for climate adaptive agriculture research and development, separate allocation for embankment construction and engagement of local government authorities in maintenance of embankment.

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon general secretary Sharif Jamil said, ‘We do not expect the growth of a few capitalists and thus achieving socio-economic sustainability will hardly be possible ignoring the environmental issues.’

He said that the flood in north eastern districts was caused by the change in climate.

CPRD chief executive officer Md Shamsuddoha said that destructive development plans increased the risks of climatic negative impacts in the country and the government should rethink about them.

Addressing the seminar as the chief guest, chair of the parliamentary standing committee on the fisheries and livestock ministry Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu said, ‘The climate financing is vital and needed to be increased for holistic and balance development in socio-economic perspectives.’

He demanded a separate ministry or board at least for coastal development issues.

He also urged the civil society representatives to raise the issues before the budget is proposed at the parliament in the coming years.