Dhaka: Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo today underscored the need to prioritize children and younger generations in climate action plans. He emphasized their role as the architects of a climate-resilient Bangladesh, both presently and in the future. Mintoo made these remarks during a meeting with UNICEF Bangladesh Acting Representative Gillian Mellsop at his Secretariat office.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the discussions focused on protecting children and adolescents from climate change impacts and ensuring that essential social services, such as education, health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and hygiene, are climate-resilient. Minister Mintoo highlighted ongoing efforts by his ministry to implement various plans in line with directives from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Mellsop expressed gratitude to the minister for the Cabinet’s approval of the National Strategy and Multi-Year Action Plan for a Lead-Free Bangladesh (2026-2035). She assured UNICEF’s full cooperation in implementing the action plan. Minister Mintoo reiterated the ministry’s commitment to strengthening initiatives aimed at safeguarding children from lead pollution and other environmental hazards.
Bangladesh continues to lead internationally in addressing climate-related risks, with children disproportionately affected despite bearing no responsibility for the climate crisis. A recent UNICEF report indicates that approximately 58.8 million children in Bangladesh are exposed to at least one climate-related hazard, with nearly nine out of ten facing three or more hazards simultaneously.
To address these challenges, the Ministry and UNICEF will jointly develop a district-level Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI) and Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) using government-approved data. These tools aim to identify the most vulnerable districts and facilitate targeted investment planning in climate adaptation and related sectors.
UNICEF is actively supporting the integration of children and adolescents in the implementation plans for Bangladesh’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) to reduce carbon emissions. This support spans across education, health, nutrition, and water, sanitation, and hygiene sectors in collaboration with the Department of Environment and relevant ministries.
Further, UNICEF will continue aiding assessments for potential rooftop solar power installations at government schools and health facilities. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will provide comprehensive support to UNICEF and relevant ministries in developing models for environment-friendly and disaster-resilient schools.
The meeting also explored incorporating climate and environmental education into the national curriculum, organising the Youth Climate Negotiators Fellowship and Youth Climate Summit, and enhancing the participation of student and adolescent networks in the national tree-plantation programme.
Dr. Md. Saidur Rahman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry’s Environment Pollution Control and Law Wing, along with officials from UNICEF Bangladesh and the ministry, attended the meeting.