Shakila Islam, a 28-year-old student at Jahangirnagar University, vividly remembers the terrifying night in 2007 when Cyclone Sidr struck her hometown of Barisal, Bangladesh. At the age of 12, she and her family sought refuge in the kitchen of their small house as winds of up to 120mph battered the area. The cyclone left behind a trail of devastation, traumatizing young individuals like Islam. Now, 16 years later, she and her peers, who have witnessed the destructive power of natural disasters, are leading YouthNet for Climate Justice, a networking platform that supports youth-led initiatives on climate policy.
Founded in 2016 by Islam and fellow activist Sohanur Rahman, YouthNet aims to amplify the voices of young people from coastal areas and increase their engagement at local, regional, and national levels. Despite limited government funding, the project has garnered attention, including from Bangladesh’s foreign minister, Dr. AK Abdul Momen, who established the “Delta Fund” in 2020 to promote youth involvement in building resilience in the face of the climate emergency.
The formation of the Coastal Youth Action Hub in 2017, attended by representatives from 19 coastal districts, signified the government’s willingness to collaborate with YouthNet. In partnership with the government’s environment department and Unicef, YouthNet organized the first youth conference on climate change in 2017, bringing together 1,000 young people from coastal areas.
Barisal, situated on the banks of the river Kirtonkhola, is a picturesque coastal city. However, its residents face the constant threat of devastating cyclones and extreme flooding. In response, the city’s youth have organized rallies, demonstrations, and campaigns, demanding that the Bangladeshi government take immediate action on climate change. In 2017, YouthNet presented a youth declaration to an all-party parliamentary group on climate change, urging increased youth engagement for a cleaner and greener country.
YouthNet has played a significant role in mobilizing young people for climate protests, including the global “Fridays for Future” movement, which demands stronger action on the Paris Accord, the international treaty on climate change adopted in 2015.
Rahman, co-founder of YouthNet and chief executive of the Bangladesh Model Youth Parliament, recognized a link between climate change disasters and child marriages. Displaced families, faced with the challenge of providing for their members, resorted to marrying off young girls as a negative coping mechanism. Rahman realized that climate change not only resulted in the loss of property and land but also impacted human rights.
YouthNet Received Support From COP26
Despite financial challenges and not meeting the government’s funding criteria to register as an NGO, YouthNet has received support from the COP26 Youth Engagement Challenge Fund and ActionAid Bangladesh. With their assistance, the organization has mobilized thousands of activists and provided support to tens of thousands of people in 40 climate-vulnerable districts. YouthNet continues to focus on helping communities adapt to the climate crisis, recognizing that migration from affected coastal areas is not a viable option for everyone.
While YouthNet has faced obstacles in realizing its ambitions, such as limited government funding, it has succeeded in initiating conversations with decision-makers in Bangladesh. The organization emphasizes that it is not against business but rather advocates against irresponsible business practices. Rahman stresses the importance of elevating young voices and ensuring that children are not sidelined in decisions that impact their lives and future.
As Bangladeshi youth activists like Shakila Islam and Sohanur Rahman take a stand against climate change, their efforts serve as a powerful reminder that the fight for a sustainable future requires the inclusion and participation of young voices in shaping policy and driving change.
