South Asian Climate Conference Concludes with Dhaka Declaration and New Climate Research Fund
The two-day South Asian Climate Change Conference was organized during 2-3 November, 2024 ended adopting Dhaka Declaration and announcement of formation of a new climate fund 'South Asian Research Hub Small Grant' to extend financial support to the region's climate researchers.
CPE Director Mohammad Abdur Rahman Rana, also chair of the conference, announced formation of the fund.
The Centre for People and Environment (CPE), which works on climate change issues, hosted the two-day event at the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) in Dhaka.
Global Centre for Climate Change and Environment of Global Forum for Sustainable Rural Development (GFSRD), OXFAM Bangladesh, Noakhali Science and Technology University, LEDARS, River and Delta Research Center were collaborators for the event where 135 researchers, scholars joined in person and many more joined online.
Dhaka University Geography and Environment Department Chairman Professor Dr Shahidul Islam presided over in the working session while PIB Director General Faruk Wasif, Tripura University's Associate Professor Dr Saptarshee Mitra, Bhutan's Royal University Professor Dr Om Katel, BRAC Climate Change Programme's Senior Programme Manager Tapas Ranjan Chakrabarti, Executive Director of Leaders' Mohon Kumar Mandol, and North South University Environment Science Professor Dr Sirajul Islam also spoke.
In the working session, the speakers said that as investment in South Asia for youth climate researchers is very poor there is no major innovation of technology to address the climate issues in this region though it vulnerable to climate change.
According to the announcement, the students and youth researchers of Bangladesh, Afganistan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives will get small funding support from the new fund.
In the first day of the conference on Saturday, Professor of Environment Science on Toronto University in Canada Prof Dr Monirul Kader Mirza, agronomist Dr Jagat Chand Malakar, GFSRD President Dr Shiladitya Chatterjee and Tripura University Assistant Professor and GFSRD General Secretary Dr Jayanta Choudhury also spoke.
Dr Monirul Mirza said almost all the countries in South Asia are vulnerable to weather issues. None of the countries is out of risk, according to the research of the World Bank. "We don't know what will happen after 75 or 100 years. So, we are keeping this under consideration."
Jagat Chanda emphasized on enhancing use of modern technologies along with the knowledge of farmers to ensure nutrition and food safety for the people in the region.
Dr. Shiladitya Chatterjee claimed that the additional 4 per cent of GDP (gross domestic product) growth could be ensured if two countries work together.
Dr. Jayanta Choudhury advocated for regional collaboration on climate change initiatives between South Asian countries in the field of Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer, Climate Finance and Green Funding, Climate information, Adaptation practices.
CPE Director Abdur Rahman Rana assured needed support would be provided to the youth of South Asian countries for research on climate change issues.
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