Children are the most vulnerable in the world due to climate change. Yet their protection has rarely been given priority in the policymaking process.
In a recent important meeting at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) in Bangladesh, Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo said that children will be the top priority in the country’s climate action plan.
At the same time, special emphasis has been placed on implementing the ‘Lead-Free Bangladesh National Strategy and Action Plan (2026–2035)’, which is being implemented in collaboration with UNICEF Bangladesh, and is a groundbreaking step in protecting the country’s health and environment.
Activities and how climate risks affect children: The meeting showed data from a new international study that about 58.8 million children in Bangladesh face different climate risks.
About 9 out of every 10 children in the country are facing three or more natural disasters at the same time. To address this crisis, the government and relevant stakeholders have taken several effective steps:
District-based Child Climate Risk Index (CCRI): The Department of Environment, Bangladesh, and UNICEF are working together to create a ‘Child Climate Risk Index’ and a ‘Climate Scenario Analysis’ for children using government-approved data. Through this, the most vulnerable areas of the country will be identified and specific adaptation plans will be implemented there.
Eco-friendly and strong buildings: We are looking into the possibility of putting solar panels on school rooftops and health centers, and creating strong model schools that can keep children safe during disasters. In addition, special emphasis has been placed on integrating environmental education into the curriculum.
Plan for a lead-free Bangladesh: We have kicked off steps to ban lead in decorative paints and other products. This is meant to protect children’s brain development and intelligence.
Green Page perspective: Children are the craftsmen of the future, but they are not the least responsible for climate change—rather, they are its biggest victims. The government’s visionary policy to protect the environment and its decision to place children at the center of the climate action plan will provide the country’s next generation with a safe, lead-free, and green future.
Green Page believes that proper implementation of these action plans is the key to building a sustainable Bangladesh.
