A two-day international event, Local Conference of Youth (LCY), concluded at the Multipurpose Hall of BRAC University in the capital. The main objective of the conference was to inspire the young generation to be aware of climate change and play an effective role. ‘Sikt Bangladesh’ was the organizer of the event. The conference began on September 20 and officially ended on Sunday afternoon, September 21. The conference, organized simultaneously in 110 countries around the world, collected students’ opinions and proposals on climate, which will be presented at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference.

The opening day was addressed by Rowfa Khanam, Assistant Director of BRAC University’s Climate Research Institute C3ER, Maliha Muzammil, UNDP Climate Expert, Alba Pena, Representative of Yango, the Chief Coordinator of the International Event, and Farzana Faruk Jhumu, Youth Adviser to the UN Secretary-General. The closing day was attended by C3ER Advisor Professor Ainun Nishat, Managing Director of Bohni Shikha Tasafi M Hossain, First Secretary of the Swedish Embassy Nayoka Martinez, Director of the Department of Environment (Air Quality) Ziaul Haque, Chair of SIKTA Bangladesh Khadija Mustarin and Vice Chancellor of BRAC University Dr. Syed Ferhat Anwar.

Around 200 students from different universities of the country participated in the conference and shared their observations and opinions. They discussed the issues to be done to address the negative impacts of climate change while retaining the positive aspects. SIKTA Bangladesh Director Mahbub Alam Tamim said that the international organization YANGO wants to use the youth as the main driving force in addressing climate change. The two-day conference has been organized with this aim in mind, the outcome of which will be the Youth Statement, which will be presented at the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference.

The two-day discussion highlighted the challenges, opportunities, and actions to be taken in Bangladesh due to climate change.