Training on climate change adaptation ends To 2 batches of teachers, youth & students

Under the initiative of the "Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Sustainable Development Pathways of Bangladesh" project implemented by the Department of Environment with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and technical assistance from UNDP Bangladesh, two batches of residential training on climate change adaptation have been successfully completed for teachers, youth representatives and students of Mirsarai and Sitakunda upazilas of Chittagong.

A total of 80 teachers, youth representatives and students participated in the training organized at the YPSA-HRDC campus in Sitakunda from July 27 to 28 and July 29 to 30.

The objective of the training was to increase the knowledge of the participants about the impacts, risks and adaptation strategies of climate change, involve them in climate adaptation activities at the local level and increase their capacity to implement sustainable development.

The training included participatory and practical sessions on basic concepts of climate change and adaptation, local adaptation planning (LAPA), climate-smart agriculture, nature-based solutions, inclusive climate action, youth leadership and advocacy, disaster risk reduction and climate resilient development at the local level.

The opening ceremony of the training was attended by the Director General of the Department of Environment and Additional Secretary to the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Dr. Md. Lutfar Rahman, as the chief guest. The special guests were Jamir Uddin, Director of the Department of Environment, Chittagong Region, and Md. Fakhrul Islam, Sitakunda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO). The program was presided over by Md. Khaled Hasan, Director of the Department of Environment and Project Director of the SD Pathways Project.

Project Manager Pankaj Pal, Admin and Finance Associate Rabeya Akhter, and Training Consultants Amir Hamza and Zubair Islam conducted various technical sessions in the training. The overall coordination, organization and communication of the program was handled by the project's district coordinator Md. Wahid Hossain.

Chief guest Dr. Md. Lutfar Rahman said, "Today's students will be the leaders of tomorrow. Therefore, our main goal is to make them aware and skilled in reducing carbon emissions, environmental conservation and climate adaptation."

Chittagong Region Director Jamir Uddin said, "It is very important to develop an aware and skilled young generation to deal with the effects of climate change. Students and youth must play a leading role in reducing carbon emissions and preserving the environment."

UNO Md. Fakhrul Islam said, "The participation of local people in climate adaptation is the most important. The upazila administration is working in coordination with all relevant organizations to implement disaster risk reduction, environmental conservation and sustainable development activities. By applying the knowledge gained in the training in real life, students, teachers and youth will play an important role as ambassadors of environmental awareness in their respective areas."

In the chairman's speech, Project Director Md. Khaled Hasan said, "Enhancing the capacity of teachers, youth and students to address the challenges of climate change is one of our priorities. Such training will play an important role in building a climate-resilient society at the local level."

The organizers said that through continuous such capacity-building training, climate adaptation activities at the local level will be further strengthened. It will also contribute positively to the implementation of the country's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Local Adaptation Plan (LAPA)