Bangladesh

Background

Bangladesh, a country highly vulnerable to the impacts of global warming due to its low-lying geography and dense population. Rising sea levels threaten to inundate vast coastal areas, displacing millions of people and disrupting agriculture, which is a cornerstone of the nation's economy. Increased frequency and severity of cyclones, floods, and storm surges exacerbate these issues, leading to loss of life, property damage, and economic instability.

In addition to these immediate challenges, long-term climate change impacts threaten Bangladesh's development prospects.

Saltwater intrusion from rising sea levels compromises freshwater resources and arable land, affecting both drinking water supply and crop yields. Urban areas, especially the capital Dhaka, face increased heat stress and water scarcity, which strain infrastructure and public health systems.

Climate Action in Bangladesh

This necessitates climate action with a multi-faceted approach focusing on both mitigation and adaptation strategies. Raising awareness about climate change is a fundamental step in triggering effective climate action. Here’s an overview of how The Climate Reality Project India & South Asia is planning to effectively implement it-

Strengthen Climate Reality Leader’s Network in Bangladesh to achieve our goals under the 04 pillars.
Introduction of Green Campus Programme & reforestation in coastal regions as part of our ‘emissions reduction’ strategy.

Collaborate with partners to strengthen International Cooperation with respect to COP & involve Bangladesh youth from Universities to understand their Global South Positioning
Building partnerships with like-minded organizations to build climate change awareness and solutions in Bangladesh.

Events

National Coordinators

Climate Reality Leaders in Bangladesh are consistently dedicated to addressing climate change. Among them, certain Climate Reality Leaders have been particularly enthusiastic and effective in their efforts to mitigate the climate crisis. These leaders have been selected and appointed as National Coordinators, serving as flag bearers and experts in various fields. They also mentor other Climate Reality Leaders, guiding them with their experience and expertise.

Md. Nayeem Hossin Khan

Muntasir Mamun

Tasnia Ahmed

Habiba Islam Shifat

Nawar Nasar Khan

Shooha Tabil

Md. Shakhawat Chowdhury

Introduction of Green Campus Programme

This year, we were ecstatic to take our Green Campus Programme beyond the boundaries to our neighbor Bangladesh. Introducing the Green Campus Programme in Bangladesh marks a pivotal step towards building sustainable educational institutions.

To kickstart this transformative journey, a three day long event with title- "International Seminar on Climate Change: Empowering Change for a Sustainable Tomorrow," was organized in different educational institutions in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was a landmark event that served as a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and action, uniting principals, administrators, and key stakeholders to exchange ideas, and innovative local solutions for creating greener campuses.

The objective behind the three-day event was to conduct in person workshops with all three levels of educational institutions in Bangladesh-

Schools (Students below 16 years)
Colleges (Students between 16 to 18 years)
Universities (Students between 19 to 25 years)

On day 1, we conducted a seminar at The Independent University, Bangladesh where we were joined by the students from the Green Planet Club of the University. Mr. Rabbani, the Deptt. Head of Environment, shared his thoughts on the importance of dialogue between students and organizations with sustainability as the primary goal. Mr. Aditya Pundir, Director, TCPF-India and South Asia, gave a inspiring and thought provoking presentation on science, impacts and solutions of climate change focusing on Bangladesh. It was followed by Mr. Zahurul Haque, Country Coordinator for The Climate Reality Project, India and South Asia introduced the Green Campus Program to the present teachers, students and other stakeholders.

On day 2, an event was organized at Mohan Nagar College, Merul Badda, Dhaka which was inaugurated with the planting of saplings by the Principal and Mr. Sifur Rahman from the Eco Concern Association. Ms. Riya Deb, Project Officer, TCPF, took the center stage and talked about ‘Clean and Green Campus’. More than 150 students from classes 9th to 12th and 12 faculty members along with the Principal joined the session. It was followed by an interactive Q/A session that provided valuable insights and inspired the participants to spearhead sustainability initiatives within their institution. The teachers also found the teaching resources exclusively developed in Bangla, relevant and useful for classroom teaching and happily took it with them.

On day 3, another event was organized at Ekramunnesa Boys High School, Dhaka. A session was organized on ‘Green and Clean Campuses’ which was joined by 200+ students and 12 faculty members. It was an engaging session with insightful panel discussions on how to drive meaningful change, cultivate a culture of sustainability, and empower future generations to become agents of positive environmental impact.

The three day program ended with the way forward to drive the teachers, authorities and students on the path of sustainability through the Green Campus Program in the next one year.

Climate Reality Leaders Meet

On 16th October, a meet was organized for the Climate Reality Leaders in Bangladesh by The Climate Reality Project India and South Asia. Mr. Aditya Pundir was joined by Mr. Zahurul Haque, Bangladesh's Country Coordinator, to lead the meeting. The main focus was to discuss how Bangladesh can achieve its net zero goals. The discussion revolved around the systematic execution of the activities needed to reach the goal. The meeting was joined by 13 Climate Reality Leaders from Bangladesh. They were also briefed about the new plan crafted by Climate Reality, approved by Chairman Al Gore, aiming to achieve net zero globally by 2050. In addition, they were updated on the programs already running in India. Their thoughts and opinions were sought to ensure these initiatives align well with the local conditions in India. This exchange aimed to create a shared understanding and collaborative effort in tackling climate change in the region. As the way forward, it was discussed to enhance climate education in schools and universities through the Green Campus Program. Provide teachers with training on climate change mitigation. Utilize partner networks to collaborate with coastal schools on adaptation strategies. Establish a national coordinators’ committee in Bangladesh to mentor climate reality leaders in specific domains.On 16th October, a meet was organized for the Climate Reality Leaders in Bangladesh by The Climate Reality Project India and South Asia. Mr. Aditya Pundir was joined by Mr. Zahurul Haque, Bangladesh's Country Coordinator, to lead the meeting. The main focus was to discuss how Bangladesh can achieve its net zero goals. The discussion revolved around the systematic execution of the activities needed to reach the goal. The meeting was joined by 13 Climate Reality Leaders from Bangladesh. They were also briefed about the new plan crafted by Climate Reality, approved by Chairman Al Gore, aiming to achieve net zero globally by 2050. In addition, they were updated on the programs already running in India. Their thoughts and opinions were sought to ensure these initiatives align well with the local conditions in India. This exchange aimed to create a shared understanding and collaborative effort in tackling climate change in the region. As the way forward, it was discussed to enhance climate education in schools and universities through the Green Campus Program. Provide teachers with training on climate change mitigation. Utilize partner networks to collaborate with coastal schools on adaptation strategies. Establish a national coordinators’ committee in Bangladesh to mentor climate reality leaders in specific domains.