At the Bangladesh Pavilion of COP30 in Belém, young climate leaders from Bangladesh gathered for a high-level dialogue titled “1.5°C Is Non-Negotiable: Bangladeshi Youth Call for a Fast & Fair Transition.” Organized by Brighters, Bangladesh Youth Climate Coalition, Climate Citizen Network, and Bangladesh Youth COP, the event amplified the urgent demands of Bangladeshi youth for stronger climate action, equitable transition, and accelerated global commitments to keep the 1.5°C target within reach.
The session, held at 12:30 PM (Brazil Time), brought together youth leaders, climate experts, academics, government officials, and civil society representatives to reflect on the escalating climate crisis and the disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities in Bangladesh.
Fariha Aumi from Brighters moderated the event, while Saidur Rahman Siam, also from Brighters, delivered the keynote presentation, highlighting the latest science, global policy gaps, and the need for a just transition powered by youth leadership.
Speakers stressed that Bangladesh—one of the most climate-vulnerable nations—continues to suffer despite contributing the least to global emissions. They reiterated that 1.5°C is not just a number for Bangladesh, but a matter of survival, and urged major emitters to adopt faster decarbonization pathways, provide accessible climate finance, and ensure loss and damage support for frontline nations.
During the discussion, A. K. M. Sohel, Additional Secretary (ERD), Ministry of Finance, highlighted the government’s long-term vision for youth capacity-building.
He announced, “Next year, the Economic Relations Division of the Ministry of Finance will organize a series of training programs, and the top ten participants will receive the party badge. This initiative aims to strengthen youth engagement and prepare the next generation for shaping Bangladesh’s economic and climate-responsive future.”
Saidur Rahman Siam, Founder of Brighters, described the purpose of organizing such a high-level youth dialogue at COP30, saying: “Our goal is to send a united message from young people: we cannot allow the COP process to drift away from the 1.5°C commitment that the Paris Agreement promised. This target is our survival threshold, and it must remain at the center of global climate negotiations.”
The event was organized by Brighters, BYCC, and CCN, in association with Climate Frontiers, OAB Foundation, Footsteps, YouthNet Global and CAPS, and ActionAid Bangladesh. Shocheton Foundation and Waterkeepers Bangladesh served as strategic partners.
The youth leaders concluded with a strong, unified message: future COPs must deliver real action, not promises, and global decision-makers must take responsibility to enable a fast, fair, and inclusive transition that protects the world’s most vulnerable.
