Given the intergenerational nature of climate change, many of us might not be around to experience the brunt of its impacts, while today’s young generation will be fighting extreme climate events, both in terms of increased frequency and intensity. Global youth movements have historically enabled each society to accomplish meaningful social, economic and political needs. To achieve the economic benefits of the demographic dividend, youth empowerment and inclusion across all sectors, are crucial today to combat any mode of crisis. Thus, understanding the need of the hour, youth worldwide are spearheading conversations, debates and movements as advocates for a climate-resilient present and future.
Approximately 25% of Bangladesh’s entire population falls within the 15-29 age bracket. In terms of numerical figures, the current youth population in the country stands at 45.9 million as per the recently released census report by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). Being the 7th most climate- vulnerable country in the world as per the Global Climate Vulnerability Index, 2021, Bangladesh’s tryst with climate-induced disasters has persisted for decades, and the past few years has witnessed a significant rise in climate change awareness and youth driven climate advocacy. Bangladesh’s demographic dividend and innovation and energy driven by youth, is thus a crucial resource to drive climate action and advocacy and empowering them and building their capacity ensures that a strong legacy is left behind for future generations.
To build a sustainable future in the current climatic context, it is crucial to recognize the role of the youth in strengthening climate action as a response across socio-economic settings in climate-vulnerable regions across South Asia. Indelibly, the youth demographic will be fighting an even more difficult battle in the near future, and therefore their preparedness and readiness to tackle climate change must be underscored as a vital national, regional and global agenda. Understandably, the need for capacity building, empowerment and subsequent inclusion of youth voices is unanimously recognized as a vital strategy today, and their perspectives, ideas and opinions are taken into due consideration.
With the aim of building a generation of young climate leaders, the project ‘Climate Actioneers’ took flight. The campaign is seen as an effort to accelerate effective and impactful youth engagement in the areas of climate action, advocacy, and campaigning through networking, capacity-building and meaningful youth involvement in decision making at the local, regional, and national levels. Driven by the spirit of inclusion, it will not only seek to connect and include youth from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, diaspora and communities within Bangladesh; it will also amplify the participation and engagement of youth from marginalized and hard-to-reach areas, especially climate vulnerable coastal areas.
The first two training and capacity-building sessions on Green Jobs and Climate Leadership were held in the coastal districts of Feni and Noakhali. With the support and collaborative efforts of the project implementation partner, “Youthnet for Climate Justice,” and knowledge partner, the “Movers Programme”. The very first session in Feni saw the active participation of 25 dedicated youth. The session served as a profound exploration of green job opportunities and the cultivation of climate leadership.
To further empower participants, they were organized into teams, each tasked with identifying pressing climate issues within their respective communities. The goal was to craft strategic campaigns to raise awareness. Each team came up with creative ideas to conduct a campaign within their own communities, which were illustrated in flow charts and presented in front of session facilitators. As a final testament to the commitment and creativity of the participants, one outstanding team was awarded a small grant to bring their campaign to life within their local community.
The second consecutive session held in Noakhali saw a cohort of 31 youth, who designed and conceived strategic campaigns for raising awareness on climate issues such as plastic pollution and deforestation, with impressive dedication and innovative thinking.
With a motto of building a resilient future with resilient youth, Climate Actioneers continues to empower young people as leaders, driven by its overarching aim of protecting the rights of future generations and amplifying young people’s voices.
Lamia Mohsin is a young Bangladeshi development professional and researcher working on key areas including climate resilience, adaptation, local governance and public policy. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Development Studies from the University of Dhaka, and has just completed an MSc in Environment and Development at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) under the UK Government’s Chevening Scholarship.
Lamia currently works with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bangladesh, as Innovation and Project Management Officer, focusing on several cross-cutting areas, especially climate governance and justice. As an Oxfam Young Leaders Fellow, she also implements transformative projects seeking to empower communities in the face of climate change in Bangladesh. She has previously worked as a consultant at the Resilience and Inclusive Growth Cluster of the UNDP Bangladesh Country Office and the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) South Asia, where she supported GCA’s role as a solutions broker for climate adaptation solutions, in close collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh
