CPD Research Associate Ms Lam-ya Mostaque voiced concern over deforestation in Bangladesh while addressing as a member of Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus’ delegation to the One Young World Summit 2015 held during 18 – 21 November in Bangkok, Thailand.
As a young leader, she addressed the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to abate deforestation and take leadership to ensure a binding agreement in this regard at the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) set to begin on 30 November 2015.
Under the initiative “Call on COP” at the summit, young leaders from 196 countries addressed their Heads of Government on mainstream media before COP21.
The annual summit was attended by eminent individuals including former UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan, Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, President of Mauritius Ameenah Gurib, philanthropist Sir Bob Geldof, Unilever CEO Paul Polman, former Astronaut Ron Garan, former Aussie cricket captain Steve Waugh and Fatima Bhutto among others.
Ms Mostaque was selected for the ten-member delegation through a competitive process by the Yunus Centre for the delegation to the summit to which Dr Yunus is a counsellor. The summit aims to gather together the brightest young people from around the world, empowering them to make lasting connections to create positive change.
The summit hosted six plenary sessions on education, environment, global business, human rights, leadership & government, peace & security, where young delegates shared their experiences and raised demands. Terrorism and climate change were top priorities in this year’s discussion.
One Young World counsellors including former Kofi Annan, Paul Polman and Sir Bob Geldof called on world leaders to commit capping carbon emissions. Special sessions held by counsellors also included issues such as social business, gender equality etc.
One Young World is a UK-based not-for-profit foundation that was founded in 2009 by David Jones and Kate Robertson.