Bangladeshi youths have brought their country鈥檚 climate crisis to the global stage at COP29 in Baku in Azerbaijan, through a powerful Nakshikantha showcase at the Bangladesh Pavilion.
Organised by YouthNet Global, the showcase titled Nakshikantha, a traditional embroidered quilt art, has showcased ongoing struggles of Bangladesh鈥檚 marginalised communities as they face the devastating impacts of climate change, said a press release on Saturday.
In her speech at the inauguration ceremony, Farhina Ahmed, secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, emphasised the critical need for international support.
Mentioning that Bangladesh requires around $876 billion to fight the climate crisis, she said, 鈥楢s damages continue to increase, international funding is essential for transitioning to a sustainable, and low-carbon economy.鈥�
She also urged youths to take on a more active role in advocating for climate justice, stating that the youths must lead the charge in demanding the urgent action needed to protect the future.
The event saw strong participation from government officials, private sector representatives, local and international civil society members, and young climate activists.
The showcase underscored the urgent need for substantial financial support to help Bangladesh adapt to climate change and strengthen resilience.
鈥榃e need global cooperation to address the challenges faced by climate-impacted countries like Bangladesh,鈥橣arhina stressed.
Sohanur Rahman, executive coordinator of YouthNet Global, pointed out the cultural losses caused by the climate crisis.
鈥楥OP29 may be called 鈥楾he Finance COP,鈥� but we cannot overlook the non-economic losses, particularly in terms of preserving our cultural heritage,鈥� he said.