BACKGROUND

The world is facing the disastrous consequences of the climate crisis. Temperatures are increasing, floods and droughts are becoming more intense, and sea-levels are rising, with dire impacts for young people across the globe.  However, the climate crisis is not inevitable and youth, who see climate change as a  priority, are an important part of the solution.

Human activities are estimated to have caused approximately 1.0°C of global warming above pre-industrial levels, with a likely range of 0.8°C to 1.2°C. Global warming is likely to reach 1.5°C between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at the current rate (high confidence) (IPCC Special Report on 1.5° C). By the end of the century the max temp is projected to increase by 2 to 2.5 deg Celsius by RCP (Representative Concentration Pathway) 4.5 scenario, while it will be 4 deg C RCP 8.5.

According to Germanwatch’s 2021 Global Climate Risk Index (CRI), Bangladesh ranks seventh on the list of countries most vulnerable to climate devastation. In the last five years, people have seen five times more flooding than usual. Rural communities that depend on natural resources for their livelihoods to face the worst. It is estimated that by 2050, one in seven Bangladeshi citizens will be displaced. Looking even further down the road, Scientific American describes how “Climate Change in Bangladesh has started what may become the largest mass migration in human history.” Adverse Impact of Climate Change in Bangladesh includes Salinity, Intrusion, Drought, Impact on agriculture, Increased rainfall and flood, Tidal surge, Cyclone and River erosion.

Many of the challenges relating to youth engagement around climate change issues, can all be traced back to broader human rights, democracy and governance challenges. Climate justice, in addressing human rights as well as social and economic inequalities, has become of pressing significance with the pandemic augmenting them. Marginalized groups, including young women, youth from indigenous communities, young persons with disabilities, and youth from ethnic and minority communities, already at the frontlines of the climate crisis have been overset by the challenges of the pandemic. Existing inequalities mean people may face climate change not only differently, but more intensely and in the absence of resources, continue to face its impacts for a longer term, reducing their chances of recovering. This is further impacted by the shrinking civic space in the region which has exacerbated the risks faced by environmental defenders and activists in their defense of human rights relating to the environment.

One fourth of the country’s total population is in the 15-29 age group according to the census report recently published by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). They are exposed to the detrimental consequences of climate change. While the climate crisis is unravelling, individuals and communities who are socially, structurally, and systemically marginalized are being disproportionately affected. As climate change will continue to intensify the challenges, children and young people, especially those at the frontlines are foreseen to suffer grave consequences.

However, young people across the world and Bangladesh are initiating their own movements — raising their voices, needs, and commitment for a better future. Yet, it is questionable how those needs and demands are reflected in global and national policies and negotiations, particularly when it comes to the implementation of the policies. Therefore, it is high time that our collective actions uphold climate justice for future generations.

What is COP?

The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention. All States that are Parties to the Convention are represented at the COP, at which they review the implementation of the Convention and any other legal instruments that the COP adopts and take decisions necessary to promote the effective implementation of the Convention, including institutional and administrative arrangements.

What is COY?

The UN Climate Change Conference of Youth (COY) is an event under the banner of YOUNGO – The Official Youth Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The conference takes place right before the annual UN Climate Change Conference, also known as Conference of the Parties (COP), in the same host country as the COP. COY serves as a space for capacity building and policy training, in order to prepare young people for their participation at COP.

WHAT IS LCOY?

Local Conferences of Youth (LCOY) are events by YOUNGO, the official children and youth constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC). Through an application process led by the LCOY Working Group, selected LCOY organizers bring the annual climate negotiations, generally through the Conferences of Parties (COP), to their home or Residence countries and advocate for more concrete climate action. LCOYs offer a safe and strong environment in which youth can influence decisions made by decision makers in their home or residence countries through concrete support from YOUNGO and other potential partners. At LCOYs, young people connect to each other, teach, learn, and organize themselves to make their voices heard to our state leaders. LCOYs form a network in which youth can connect across borders and explore ways to collaborate on a regional and global level.

LCOY BANGLADESH 2022

The first ever LCOY is going to take place in Bangladesh hosted and supported by Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), EMK Center (TBC), The Asia Foundation (TBC), in association with Movers, Youth Policy Forum (YPF), Youth for Change, Earth.org, Act4Food Act4Change,  International Youth Change Maker – IYCM, Eco Network, Roots Bangladesh, Pcycle, Swayong, Project WE and other youth led organizations from 4 october 2022. The event will serve as one of the key activities in the lead to the upcoming COY17 and COP27 conferences to be held in  November 2022.

The Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) 2022 in Bangladesh will not only focus on raising awareness for climate action, but it will also ensure direct participation of youth in climate justice, policy revision and  capacity building with local partnerships and collaboration for the planet to create a better future on a healthy planet, and an opportunity to improve the quality of life for billions of people.

It will bring together stakeholders (individuals, climate activists, academia, policy maker, govt stakeholders, civil society organizations, international organizations, private sectors, and key actors) across the nation to step up our collective efforts to support young environmental human rights activists and their transformative solutions to lead the way in our journey beyond recovery, towards 2030.

OBJECTIVES:

LCOY Bangladesh 2022 is envisioned to spotlight, and inspire youth on climate justice, food system transformation, and climate adaptation along with Innovations led by young people with the following objectives:

• Provide a platform for Bangladeshi youth to bring transformation by coming to a common platform for climate action, food system and adaptation strategies
• Ensure youth engagement countrywide to create a movement for climate activation
• Gather inputs from Bangladeshi youth, climate activist, young researchers who will be contributed to YOUNGO and other relevant stakeholders
• Build the capacity of the Bangladeshi youth in climate movements to develop innovative and effective climate solutions
• Lay the foundations for a regional youth climate movement that can leverage Southeast Asia’s dynamism to develop regional climate solutions.

WHO WILL PARTICIPATE?
LCOY Bangladesh 2022 will be a hybrid event, open to youth between the ages of 18 and 35. It will be held over a period of two days with 1000+ young environmental human rights activists and professionals (Background Covering: Researcher, NGO, Science-Policy Interface, Policy, Youth Network working on the following issues related to climate change/biodiversity/energy/ocean i.e. Indigenous Peoples, Ethic Minority groups, Gender, People with Disabilities, Economic, Finance, Media, others that are relevant to climate change issues) will participate in the conference.

KEY SESSIONS OF THE DIALOGUE

• Youth advocacy and participation at the National and global level including COY17 and COP27;
• Strategies to be part of the solutions – sharing of results of national consultation;
• Improving the youth representation in new  Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) plan and developing effective action plans.

PROPOSED TIMELINE 

Prior to the conference there will be youth engagement campaign, signature campaign, capacity-building workshops, and consultation meetings at the divisional level. Which will be reflected on the final event day.

PROPOSED LOCAL CONFERENCE OF YOUTH LCOY) BANGLADESH 2022