Winners of the EBL Climate Change Action Awards 2026 pose with Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur and other guests at the award ceremony held at a city hotel on Monday. Five organisations were recognised for innovative and scalable climate solutions at the EBL Climate Change Action Awards 2026 held at a city hotel on Monday.
The event brought together policymakers, diplomats, business leaders and development partners, underscoring the growing role of the private sector in advancing climate resilience in Bangladesh.
The annual awards were organised by Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) in partnership with the embassies of Germany, France, Denmark and Sweden, along with the Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh.
Among the award recipients, Siam City Cement (Bangladesh) Limited won the green manufacturing award for its low-clinker cement product, INSEE ECO Plus+, developed for saline-prone coastal regions. The product reduces clinker content to 45-50 per cent and uses supplementary materials such as fly ash and slag, cutting carbon emissions by 46 per cent compared to ordinary Portland cement.
Cassetex Ltd received the energy efficiency award for establishing Bangladesh's first distributed lithium-ion battery swapping network, aimed at replacing hazardous lead-acid batteries. The solar-powered, pay-as-you-go model aligns with the Renewable Energy Policy 2025 and is projected to reduce carbon emissions by 1.35 million tonnes annually.
Youth Action for Sustainable Future (YASF) was recognised in the climate-smart agriculture category for introducing a climate-resilient agroecology model in Mehendiganj of Barishal. Using bamboo- and drum-based floating structures, the initiative has improved fish survival rates and reduced flood-related losses.
Somoy Nature won the climate education and policy advocacy award for transforming abandoned land into a biodiverse forest ecosystem through regenerative agriculture, improving soil health and food security.
Green Delta Insurance PLC received the climate adaptation and resilience award for its parametric insurance solutions, which have protected more than 1.6 million vulnerable households. Since launching Bangladesh's first weather-index crop insurance in 2015, the insurer has expanded coverage to floods, cyclones and heatwaves across 50 districts, disbursing more than Tk 232 million through automated mobile payouts.
EBL Managing Director Ali Reza Iftekhar said the award-winning initiatives demonstrated the strength of locally driven solutions and cross-sector collaboration in managing climate risks. He added that more than 80 per cent of EBL's lending portfolio now qualifies as sustainable finance, supported by newly introduced green deposit and asset products.
The awardees were selected through a two-stage process, with nominations shortlisted by the Center for Participatory Research and Development and final selections made by an independent jury based on impact, scalability, innovation and long-term sustainability.
Speaking at the ceremony, Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur said that while climate change is a global crisis, solutions must be driven locally, stressing the need for stronger self-reliance as international support for climate action becomes less predictable.
"Climate change adaptation is our fight," he said, noting that rising sea levels, salinity intrusion, climate-induced migration and pressure on urban infrastructure are already being felt within the country. Bangladesh, he added, cannot rely entirely on external assistance to confront these challenges.
Mansur said Bangladesh Bank has played a catalytic role in promoting green growth since 2012 and is ahead of many regional peers in climate-related financial indicators.
He highlighted initiatives such as sustainable financing awards to encourage banks, and the Green Transformation Fund, which enables industries to access subsidised financing for energy- and water-efficient technologies, including renewable energy.
He also pointed to progress in the private sector, particularly in the readymade garment industry, where several factories have achieved internationally recognised platinum and gold green certifications.
Some industrial groups, he added, are generating up to 40 per cent of their electricity from solar power. However, he warned that climate threats continue to intensify, accelerating internal migration and unplanned urbanisation, especially in Dhaka.
German Ambassador Dr Rüdiger Lotz said that climate mitigation and adaptation require close cooperation between governments, businesses and civil society. He stressed that private investment must increasingly "go green" to support sustainable growth and climate resilience.
EU Head of Delegation Michael Miller said climate leadership must extend beyond policy discussions and translate into tangible action. He noted that Team Europe is mobilising €3.7 billion for climate and energy priorities in Bangladesh, emphasising the importance of implementation on the ground.
French Ambassador Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet underscored the value of locally driven solutions, saying effective climate action must be rooted in national and community-level initiatives rather than relying solely on global mechanisms.
Sweden's Ambassador Nicolas Weeks said climate initiatives must deliver measurable results and be integrated into core financial and business operations to ensure long-term impact and sustainability.
Danish Ambassador Christian Brix Møller said EBL's climate awards highlight and celebrate companies leading the green transition, adding that such recognition can inspire others and reinforce the importance of collective action.
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