Dhaka: Oxfam in Bangladesh and Curtin University of Australia jointly launched the Urban Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction Hub today in the city with an aim to foster urban resilience through climate action and disaster response following research, innovation, collaboration, and advocacy. Rezaul Maksud Jahedi, Secretary of the Local Government Division, Md Shahjahan Mia, Administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation, and other notable figures attended the launch event.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, with over 58 percent of the world’s population now residing in urban areas-a figure expected to rise to 70 percent by 2050-cities are both victims and vectors of the climate crisis. They consume 75 percent of global energy and produce over 70 percent of carbon emissions, making them increasingly vulnerable to climate-induced challenges such as heatwaves, air pollution, sea-level rise, and floods, all of which exacerbate existing inequalities.
The year 2024 was recorded as the hottest year on record, significantly impacting urban poor and marginalized communities, such as Dhaka’s urban poor, who face climate risks up to 10 times greater than their wealthier counterparts. Rezaul Maksud Jahedi emphasized that urban climate resilience is now essential, and a collaborative approach will strengthen disaster preparedness, inform better policies, and ensure cities can safeguard all citizens, particularly the most vulnerable.
Md Shahjahan Mia echoed the urgency for collaborative action, while Mohammad Azaz highlighted the need for adaptive strategies, coordinated leadership, and community-driven designs to tackle urban challenges. Ashish Damle pointed out that cities like Dhaka are grappling with overlapping crises, including extreme heat, air pollution, unplanned growth, and frequent climate-induced disasters, which push vulnerable communities deeper into risk.
He noted that the newly launched Hub aims to address these urban climate and disaster challenges through innovative research, inclusive policy advocacy, capacity-building, and community-led innovation. The Hub focuses on six core themes: urban heat and pollution, energy transitions, green infrastructure, geospatial science, climate justice, and emergency response systems.
Professor Martin Van Kranendonk remarked on how urbanization is reshaping vulnerabilities but also holds the tools for transformation, with the Hub bridging science and community to create locally grounded, globally scalable solutions.
Dr. Mohammad Emran Hasan and Dr. Ashraf Dewan provided a detailed presentation on the Hub’s context, vision, and roadmap. The event also featured research presentations by Dr. Fei Yang and Dr. Mo Hoque, exploring urban heat stress and the role of data and technology in addressing these challenges.
The event concluded with a panel discussion featuring experts from various sectors, drawing broad participation from civil society, academia, media, development partners, and municipal authorities. The Hub sets a precedent for Bangladesh and other countries facing the triple burden of climate change, urbanization, and social inequality.