‘Don’t sleep through climate crisis’
Rising seas, floods, and intensifying cyclones are just a few of the calamities that threaten Bangladesh, one of the most climate change-vulnerable countries in the world, said speakers yesterday.
They said this at the Global Youth Climate Summit, organised by the Global Youth Leadership Center (GYLC).
The speakers stressed on the need for urgent action to address climate change, especially in countries like Bangladesh.
With a projected 19.6-inch (50 cm) rise in sea level, Bangladesh may lose approximately 11 percent of land, and up to 18 million people may have to migrate because of sea-level rise alone, they mentioned.
Dr Dean Williams, former Harvard professor of leadership, took a masterclass for the virtual and in-person delegates of the summit on the final day of the programme. He shared essential leadership skills and strategies that can help the youth effectively mobilise others for action.
Those who can, do... It's easy to sleep through a problem like the climate crisis and feel powerless, but I urge you [youths] to take responsibility and take climate action, both at the individual and community level.
In the pursuit of creating change, he said, it is important for the youth to be committed but not to be crusaders. Change takes time and overwhelming people with information and asking them to make too many changes too quickly may be counterproductive.
Therefore, it's important to pace the work and invite people to bring about small behavioural changes to reduce their carbon footprint, he added.
Following the session by Dr Williams, community organising expert Mais Irqsusi conducted a workshop on public narrative and organising. She asserted that "organising is leadership that enables people to turn the resources they have into the power they need to make the change they want."
Founder and CEO of GYLC Ejaj Ahmad ran a session on developing an action plan for the delegates in the second half of the day. "Those who can, do... It's easy to sleep through a problem like the climate crisis and feel powerless, but I urge you to take responsibility and take climate action, both at the individual and community level."
In the closing ceremony of the summit, Parliament Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Dutch Ambassador Anne van Leeuwen, Sir Christopher Ball, and youth activist Sohanur Rahman delivered remarks.
In her address, Chaudhury said, "I'm delighted to see a global initiative like GYLC, which will mobilise youths from climate-vulnerable countries in Asia and Africa to take climate action, is being launched from Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a hotbed for innovation, and the world has a lot to learn from the climate resilience and adaptability of our communities."
Ten global climate champions were each awarded $1,000 for their climate-action projects. The award winners are Abishek Pradhan from India, Ademilusi Emmanuel from Nigeria, Akash Pandey from Nepal, Ananya Pathak from India, Cheick Simpore from Burkina, Hasibul Hasan from Bangladesh, Jonah Kirabo from Uganda, Raisul Safkat from Bangladesh, Samantha Ramadhanti from Indonesia, and Tseenyam Davasuren from Mongolia.
Grameenphone is the title sponsor of the Global Youth Climate Summit, while the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, FHI360, and Sir Christopher Ball and Lady Ball are the gold sponsors. Silver sponsors include Paragon Group, UCB, Brac, and Daraz. Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center (BYLC) is the implementing partner. BEDS and YouthNet for Climate Justice are the community and outreach partners of the event respectively.
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