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Emphasizing climate education for a sustainable future

Published : Friday, 19 April, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 1233
Alaul Alam
Climate education refers to the knowledge about the climatic changes, which aims at providing the learners skills and approaches to develop effective responses, help them understand the causes and consequences of climate change and empower them to take appropriate actions for sustainable lifestyles.

On top of that, climate education helps the policymakers from home and abroad realize the importance of adopting policies on a national or global scale to avert climate crisis. It helps communities to learn how the impacts of climate change are affecting them and their surroundings and helps the vulnerable communities to be resilient, affected adversely due to the global climate change.

But it is true that confining climate education to theoretical approaches must not be enough, rather, to be climate education effective it is a must to realize the concept of understanding the complex relationship between human activities and environment. Again, it should be incorporated into different disciplines with a view to providing unique education on climate crisis as well as effective responses to it.

Evidently, introducing climate education is one of the pressing issues for the countries around the world but the question may be pertinent to raise; how is the accomplishment regarding global climate education? Studies show that countries across the globe are not giving much importance on climate education although it is being considered a fundamental component for a sustainable future.

Climate education amid the escalating impacts of climate change can never be optional, rather is key to navigate the climate crisis with more effective responses. As, in most cases, climate-related hazards are man-made, it must be solved by humans and knowledge on tackling climate crisis is a must for every individual surviving on Earth.

Being a faculty member of Prime University I have had a scope to attend a workshop recently on Climate Change Impacts and Cascading Effects on Emergency Response organized by Prime University in collaboration with Community Development for Peace (CDP). The event featured prominent speakers who stressed the urgent need for taking concerted efforts to tackle climate change and environmental hazards.  

The address of the keynote speaker was delivered by Prof. Dr. Fatima Velez de Castro from the University of Coimbra, Portugal. Md. Mijanur Rahman, Director General, Department of Disaster Management of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh attended the workshop as Chief Guest. Engr. Md. Towhidur Rahman, CIP, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Prime University and Prof. Dr. Engr. Md. Humaun Kabir, Vice Chancellor of the University spoke on the event.

Obviously, the initiatives including climate change awareness programs, seminars and workshops help the individuals at the grassroots level know climate adaptation and environmental sustainability. To grapple with the escalating impacts of climate change it is very imperative to equip the future generations with knowledge and skills to help them become active agents to combat climate crisis.

Bangladesh whosegeographical location is in the low-lying delta plain has made it prone to cyclones, storm surges, riverine flooding, and droughts risking people with multiple climate hazards although its global emissions are only 0.56%. According to German Watch Climate Risk Index (CRI) Bangladesh ranked the seventh extreme disaster risk-prone country in the world enduring the effects of climate change for decades.

Emphasizing the incorporation of quality climate and environmental education at all levels of school curriculum sees no alternative. It is good to see that climate and environment related information has been included in primary, junior-secondary, and secondary school textbooks but to cope with global climate change and accelerate policy-making,much focus should be given to introduce inclusive climate education not only to address climate change but also to mitigate and adapt to its impacts.

Different sources claim that between 2000 and 2019 the country experienced 185 extreme weather events costing a combined total of $3.72 billion. The USAID Report-2018 claims that 89% of Bangladeshis (approximately 143 million) live in high or very high climate exposure areas.

It is estimated that the country is likely to lose 11% of its land by 2050 with a projected 19.6-inch rise in sea level leaving one out of every seven people in Bangladesh to displacing from their homes. Sources estimate that more than 18 million people may face forced displacement due to sea level rise by 2050.

However, it is good to see that the country has been acclaimed as the role model in combating climate crisis and ensuring effective responses towards sustainable climate adaptation. Over the last few decades the number of people who have died from cyclones has decreased significantly from six digits -Cyclone Bhola in 1970 to double digits -- Cyclone Sitrang in 2022 due to the success of the countrys cyclone preparedness program.Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief is working relentlessly in collaboration with local government to ensure maximum success in tacking man-made and natural disasters.

Besides, the initiatives such as community-based early warning systems, strengthening of polders, coastal afforestation and elevated housing have ensured maximum safety for the people and animals in the coastal areas reducing the destructions significantly due to extreme weather events. Growing saline-tolerant varieties of rice, floating agriculture and water-saving technologies in drought prone areas help enhance food security even in extreme weather. The national policies and plans of the government have included different adaptation activities prioritizing the indigenous and local knowledge.

Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP, 2009), Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, climate inclusive updated National Environment Policy (2018), updated Standing Order on Disaster (2019), etc. are the mentionable action plans contributing to strengthening climate resilience.

Finally, to ensure inclusive achievement on climate issue, collaborative works among different national and international agencies along with government, non-government and private organizations should be strengthened to address the climate challenges and climate education must be the forefront to tackle climatic disasters and ensure a sustainable future.

The writer  teaches at Prime University and also a Research Scholar at the IBS



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