Over 200 young climate activists from across Bangladesh have presented a 14-point manifesto demanding urgent action to ensure climate justice in a "Bangladesh 2.0."
These demands were issued at the closing ceremony of the three-day Bangladesh Youth CoP 2024 conference, held on Wednesday at the Aloki Convention Centre in Dhaka.
The event, jointly organized by ActionAid Bangladesh and Brighters Youth Society, aimed to amplify youth voices in national and international climate policymaking.
The conference, which gathered young representatives from grassroots areas like Satkhira, Cox's Bazar, Kurigram, and Bandarban, focused on pressing climate challenges including water shortages, wetland crises, and hardships faced by drought and flood-affected communities.
The activists engaged in discussions with national and international experts, addressing issues such as renewable energy, climate change losses and damages, and the impact on marginalized groups, especially women and adolescents.
Among the key demands, the activists called for government action on climate-induced health issues, safe drinking water, sustainable dams in coastal areas, and policies to empower youth in creating a green and circular economy.
They also highlighted the need for gender-sensitive disaster management, the protection of traditional livelihoods, and greater youth representation in climate policymaking forums.
In her closing remarks, Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, stressed the importance of youth-led climate initiatives and called for their demands to be presented at CoP-29 in Azerbaijan.
"Young people are the architects of climate justice in a new Bangladesh," she said.
Prominent figures attending the event included climate experts, government officials, and representatives from international organizations.
