Photo : Collected
In anticipation of the upcoming COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan this November, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) held a high-level consultation on Tuesday with youth climate leaders to discuss Bangladesh’s position paper for the summit.
This event took place at the CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka, with support from the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) at BRAC University, said a media release sent on Tuesday.
The consultation brought together government officials and young climate advocates from across Bangladesh to ensure the country's voice reflects the urgent concerns of its youth.
The event was chaired by Additional Secretary Iqbal Abdullah Harun and moderated by Deputy Secretary Dharitri Kumar Sarkar. MoEFCC Joint Secretary Mohammad Abdul Wadud Chowdhury also joined the dialogue, sharing insights on Bangladesh’s commitment to the climate agenda.
This consultation underscored the Bangladesh government’s commitment to youth inclusion, marking a milestone in aligning national climate policy with the vision of its youth leaders. It serves as a significant step in empowering Bangladesh’s young voices to shape the global climate agenda at COP29, said speakers.
Shawkat Ali Mirza, Director of Climate Change and International Convention at the Department of Environment, presented Bangladesh’s COP-29 position.
He addressed key themes, including adaptation, finance, loss and damage, mitigation, Article 6, and the just energy transition work programme, emphasizing Bangladesh’s role in advocating for climate justice and resilient development.
Youth leaders present voiced the urgency of climate action, with Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global, urging bold action and inclusion. Climate change is not merely an environmental issue for the youth of Bangladesh; it’s a fight for survival and a claim to a future.
As COP-29 approaches, He urged the Bangladesh government to champion climate justice, ensuring bold protections and adaptation measures for those most affected.
He added, "Investing in youth-led climate action and equitable transition is vital. Let us not just hear the voices of young people but empower them with a seat at every decision-making table, shaping a resilient and just world.”
Farzana Faruk Jhumu, a youth advocate from UNICEF Bangladesh, added, “Youth engagement is not just a buzzword but a process. I am really excited to see that the Bangladesh government took the process seriously. The position paper from Bangladesh will help us to advocate, follow negotiation, and intervene for our own land.”
Other participants included Saila Shabnam Richi from YouthNet Global, Shah Rafayat Chowdhury, Co-Founder of Footsteps, Sadia Jahan Rothi, CVF Youth Fellow and Board Director at Eco-Network Global, and Fariha Sultana Aumi from Brighters Society.
The activists urged the government to prioritize adaptation and resilience, particularly for vulnerable communities, and called for enhanced collaboration with young leaders on climate policy.
Iqbal Abdullah Harun, in his concluding remarks, emphasized the need for the Global North to address funding disparities, noting, “It’s a long-standing struggle on climate change issues between the global North and South. Global fund allocation often follows the political decisions from the North, rather than the vulnerability of nations. But youth have the power and willingness to bring change."
He also said, "All young people across the country need to mobilize to advocate to the North. We have no choice but to adapt, and we must enhance our adaptive capacity, aiming for a 200% increase.”
Messenger/Disha
