As the world confronts escalating climate challenges, young Bangladeshis are stepping forward to turn ideas into action. On the third day of Climate Week 2025, the Youth Policy Workshop and Dialogue brought together aspiring climate leaders, researchers, and development professionals to discuss practical strategies for resilience, adaptation, and justice.
Organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in collaboration with the Embassy of Denmark in Bangladesh and the World Bank, the four-day Climate Week event, held under the theme “Transforming Ambition into Action,” featured conferences, dialogues, competitions, and exhibitions. Its goal was to generate innovative thinking on climate justice, financing, and sustainable development while empowering young voices to shape Bangladesh’s climate future.
The Youth Policy Workshop, held on 20 October 2025 at the BRAC Centre Inn, began with remarks from Mr Foqoruddin Al Kabir, Senior Research Associate at CPD, who highlighted the importance of evidence-based policymaking led by youth. Keynote presentations by Mr Md Takrim Hossain, Mr Sayed Arafat Zubayer, and Ms Farha Tasneem, Programme Associates at CPD, set the tone for the day’s sessions, focusing on strengthening the capacity of young professionals to engage in public policy and climate governance.
Participants then took part in three interactive sessions on climate budgeting and fiscal management, planning for climate adaptation and mitigation tailored to specific climatic zones, and climate justice with a focus on inclusivity and accountability.
The discussions explored how transparent public finance systems, decentralised adaptation strategies, and inclusive policymaking can ensure fair and effective climate action. In one of the sessions, participants delved into the diversity of Bangladesh’s climate zones — from flood-prone deltas to drought-affected regions — stressing that while medical responses to climate impacts may remain broadly similar, adaptation technologies and implementation strategies must be locally tailored.
In the second half of the day, the Youth Policy Dialogue provided a platform for young participants to present their policy papers and recommendations. Chaired by Dr Dwijen Mallick, Senior Researcher at CPD, the session fostered open dialogue between emerging thinkers and senior experts. The conversation revolved around integrating youth-led perspectives into policy frameworks, building partnerships between communities and institutions, and ensuring equitable climate governance.
The panel featured Ms Ishrat Binte Rouf, Lead, Programmes at GenLab; Dr Rubaiya Morshed, Assistant Professor at the University of Dhaka; Dr Sayera Younus, Senior Researcher at CPD; and Mr Abu Saleh Md Shamim Alam Shibly, Senior Research Associate at CPD.
The panellists commended the participants for their analytical insight and creativity, emphasising that future climate policy must be regionally sensitive, scientifically informed, and socially inclusive.
The day concluded with closing remarks reaffirming CPD’s commitment to supporting youth engagement in national and global climate policy. The event captured the spirit of Climate Week — transforming dialogue into action and ambition into lasting impact.
