Daffodil International University in collaboration with the Global Law Thinkers Society has recently organised an event titled Pre-COP29 Group Discussion: Advancing Sustainable Living & Green Economy for Climate Action at the Conference Room of Daffodil Smart City in Savar.
The event brought together academics, representatives from civil society organisations, government officials, and other stakeholders to discuss Bangladesh鈥檚 role and contributions to global climate action in preparation for the 29th Conference of the Parties, scheduled for November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, said a press release on Wednesday.
With nearly 200 countries participating, COP29 serves as a pivotal platform for assessing global progress on climate goals, negotiating commitments, and fostering international cooperation to address climate change.
Mahfuza Parveen, DIU research director and environmental science and disaster management associate professor, delivered the keynote speech. She highlighted the importance of Bangladesh鈥檚 initiatives to a green economy and DIU鈥檚 role in climate action through its educational programmes, research, and sustainability initiatives.
She emphasised that DIU鈥檚 leadership in sustainability has been recognised globally through top rankings, including 1st position among public and private universities in Bangladesh in The Impact Rankings 2024, top private university and 2nd in Bangladesh in the QS World Sustainability Rankings 2024, and 1st in Bangladesh and 200th globally in the UI-Greenmetric Rankings 2023..
During the discussion, David Dowland, registrar of BRAC University, expressed gratitude for mobilising youth engagement in climate action. He emphasised the critical role of social activism in holding governments鈥� accountable and called for stronger collaboration among universities to amplify youth voices.
He also highlighted the importance of supporting countries like Bangladesh, which face the disproportionate impacts of climate change despite their low carbon emissions.
Raoman Smita, president of GLTS, shared her vision for advancing sustainable living and economic resilience. She discussed GLTS鈥檚 youth-driven advocacy and initiatives, emphasising the need for coordinated action between Bangladesh鈥檚 National Adaptation Plan and its Nationally Determined Contributions.
She invited DIU to collaborate with GLTS on future initiatives, highlighting the importance of fostering both climate adaptation and mitigation.
Subir Kumar Saha, senior coordinator of the Centre for Disability in Development Bangladesh, reflected on Bangladesh鈥檚 strengths in disaster management based on his experiences at COP28. He stressed the need to bridge the gap between climate policy and implementation, advocating for nature-based solutions and calling on Bangladesh to make a compelling case for the loss and damage fund at COP29.
SM Arafat of UNIDO highlighted the exploration of environmental awareness campaigns and waste management strategies in the educational institution of Bangladesh.
Muhammad Sharifur Rahman, chairman, country director, Global Forum for Sustainable Rural Development, drew on his experiences in Australia, describing clean city initiatives such as the 鈥楧on鈥檛 Trash My Home鈥� campaign and advocated for adopting similar policies in Bangladesh.
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Responding to questions about DIU鈥檚 waste management, Mahfuza Parveen stressed that sustainable habits should be nurtured from a young age, and she highlighted DIU鈥檚 ongoing efforts in environmental consciousness and green initiatives.
Khalid Md Bahauddin, assistant professor, FGS, DIU, acknowledged the challenges Bangladesh faced in managing waste and praised DIU鈥檚 stringent waste management systems. He noted DIU鈥檚 proactive approach to maintaining an effective framework that ensured a clean and sustainable campus, setting an example for others to follow.
Farhana Mahmud from SPRIHA spoke about the importance of inclusivity in climate adaptation, advocating for the involvement of persons with disabilities to ensure equitable outcomes.
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Monir Hossain Chowdhury, Environmental Research and Development Alternatives general secretary, focused on the biodiversity conservation in the face of changing climate.
DIU civil engineering professor MR Kabir discussed the resilience of Bangladeshi communities in the face of climate challenges and the need for innovative solutions and integrating climate-resilient crops in local farming calendars.
He also gave an overview of DIU鈥檚 initiatives and future plans to become DIU a sustainable green campus in Bangladesh.
Professor Md Shahjahan, department of public health; Md Fouad Hossain Sarker along with other faculty members of DIU, highlighted the research contributions of different departments of DIU in advancing sustainable development goals nationally and internationally.
Professor SM Mahbub Ul Haque Majumder, DIU pro-vice-chancellor; Mohammed Nadir Bin Ali, registrar; Professor Md Bellal Hossain, acting dean of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences and Mohamed Emran Hossain, associate professor of development studies and member of the board of trustees joined the discussion.