On 15 July 2026, the BIMSTEC Secretariat joined a roundtable in observance of World Environment Day 2026, themed "Nature and Health: Building Climate-Resilient Public Health Systems," hosted by Bangladesh's Department of Environment with UNOPS Bangladesh  and the Embassy of Sweden. Ms. Sonam C. Namgyel, Director (Environment and Climate Change), delivered the closing remarks on behalf of the BIMSTEC Secretary General. She noted that climate change is fueling cross-border public health risks - from vector-borne diseases to water and sanitation disruptions - and highlighted BIMSTEC's cooperation in health, disaster management, environment, agriculture, and energy as key to building regional resilience.