BRAC arranges youth convention on climate change

BRAC Climate Change Programme organised a youth convention titled ‘Youth convention on climate change’ at the BRAC Centre in the capital on Sunday.

Dr Ainun Nishat, eminent environment expert, former vice-chancellor of BRAC University, and currently adviser to the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research, BRAC University, was present at the programme as the chief guest.

Students from eight public and private universities joined the convention. Only 10 per cent of these participants had attended any climate conference beforehand, said a media release.

Speakers said that the world has now realised that the youths will lead mankind in tackling the impacts of climate change.

The youths will do it by spreading awareness about environment preservation and climate education, inspiring people about sustainable living and livelihoods, and adopting recyclable energy sources instead of those that increase greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Bangladesh, which is in the worst risk of climate change impacts, is fortunate to have a large young age population who will lead the country's movement to take on the challenges of climate change.

Thirty per cent of the country’s population are youths who are already engaged in many different initiatives to promote and adopt sustainable solutions.

A number of universities in the country have developed their own initiatives to address different climate change issues, said the release.

Dr SM Munjurul Hannan Khan, additional secretary to the environment, forest and climate change ministry, and Syeda Rizwana Hasan, executive director, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association, joined the convention as special guests.

Dr Md Liakath Ali, director, BRAC Climate Change Programme, chaired the convention.

Dr Md Golam Rabbani, fellow, Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, presented the keynote report on the impacts of climate change on Bangladesh.

BRAC Climate Change Programme head Abu Sadat Moniruzzaman Khan gave an introduction to the programme.

Speakers said the roadmap to address the climate change impacts has already been prepared and the youth groups have now started its enthusiastic implementation. 

Dr Ainun Nishat said, "Weather is increasingly becoming unpredictable. The seasons of autumn, late autumn and spring are disappearing. We have experienced heavy rainfall in October in which Rajshahi was flooded. On the other hand, you will not find enough water for jute retting. We started destroying the environment with the start of industrial revolution in 1860 and we began our account of destruction only in 1990. The less carbon-dioxide and other harmful gases are emitted the better for our earth."

Dr SM Munjurul Hannan Khan praised BRAC for its role in engaging young people in the climate change actions, saying, "The industrially developed countries are spreading pollution and the whole of earth has become its victim. Today children are born in an atmosphere that is four degree Celsius warmer than that in which their parents were born. If this situation continues, the world will be in an unbearable condition by 2050 when 9.3 billion people will be living on earth."

Students of eight universities-- Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh University of Professional, BRAC University, North South University, United International University, Ahsanullah Science and Technology University and Independent University, Bangladesh-- participated at the event.