Date: 22 December 2021
Bangladesh is home to over 160 million people who are extremely vulnerable to ever-changing and emerging climate change issues. By 2050, Bangladesh is expected to experience an increase in temperature of about 1.5°C which will threaten the life and livelihood of about 15 million people residing in coastal areas. Bangladesh has historically contributed a fraction of the world’s emissions, and yet the low-lying delta nation is hard hit by climate change. The high emitting countries intensifying the climate change impacts are the responsible contributors for which countries like Bangladesh are suffering and becoming the primary climate victims.
The world’s poorest and lowest carbon-emitting countries are suffering the most from climate change and it is time for 'climate justice' to address the issues that emerged due to the action of others and secure the rights these countries deserve. To raise the issue in light, The Department of Environmental Science and Management (ESM), and the Center for Peace Studies (CPS) of South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG) at NSU have jointly organized a seminar on “Climate Justice in Bangladesh” on 22 November 2021, at the Syndicate Hall, NSU.
The seminar has gathered eminent speakers and scholars like Mr. Abul Kalam Azad, Special Envoy of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Presidency, Bangladesh Government; Mr. AKM Mamunul Rashid, Climate Change Specialist of UNDP Bangladesh, along with Mr. Muqeed Majumder Babu, Chairman, Prokriti O Jibon Foundation were present.
In the seminar, the keynote speaker, Professor Md. Jakariya, Ph.D., has pointed out the climate justice issue in this unequal world we live in and raised and proposed some significant steps like defining climate migrants of Bangladesh, establishing a Climate Solution center, Regional Hub of Climate Justice, and taking biodiversity-induced strategies to play a crucial role as one of the climate victims raising our voice for justice.
Among the discussants, Dr. Nurul Quadir, Former Additional Secretary, Government of Bangladesh and Alternate Member CDM Executive Board, UNFCCC; further reiterated about the establishing a regional hub for climate justice.
Mr. Abul Kalam Azad, Special Envoy of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Presidency, Bangladesh Government, Chief Guest of the seminar stressed on the innovative indigenous initiative already taken by the local community and also focused on the need of biodiversity rights when talking about climate justice.
Later, Mr. AKM Mamunul Rashid, Climate Change Specialist of UNDP Bangladesh pointed out triple injustice which is the countries who are least emitting are suffering the most and also taking further steps to lessen the suffering from climate induced disasters.
Mr. Golam Monowar Kamal, Executive Director at Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Ambassador Shahidul Haque, Former Foreign Secretary, Government of Bangladesh and Professorial Fellow, SIPG, NSU and Ms. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Chief Executive of Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (BELA) has engaged discussions on climate rights and justice to put light on the climate issues and significance of justice in the current phenomenon. The chair of the seminar, Professor Atiqul Islam, Vice-Chancellor of NSU emphasized on ensuring the climate justice globally by reducing the unfairness among countries, regions, genders and generations.
After the discussion, there were some key points from the audience, Ms. Hasin Jahan, Country director of WaterAid, Bangladesh who mentioned the related climate crisis with water crisis and mentioned the importance of technology to combat it. The seminar was moderated by Professor Sk. Tawfique M. Haque, Director of SIPG & CPS and Chair of the Dept. of Political Science and Sociology, NSU. Dr. Abdul Wohab, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Center for Peace Studies (CPS), NSU delivered the concluding remarks and vote of thanks.
Through this seminar, they aim to create evidence-based research which will help the country to come forward with emerging advocates of climate justice, tools, and techniques that the youth/researchers can pursue globally and build a new generation of research initiatives that will directly supplement the 8th five-year plan, SDG, and vision 2041.