By Abbas Nazil
The Institute of Climate Change, Environment and Sustainability (ICCES) has been officially launched at Brac University, coinciding with the observance of International Climate Action Day 2025.
The inauguration, held on 26 October, highlighted the central theme “Youth Engagement for a Sustainable Future,” reflecting a strong focus on empowering young people to take leadership roles in addressing the global climate crisis.
The event brought together students, researchers, and renowned climate experts from across Bangladesh, underscoring the importance of youth-led innovation in shaping a climate-resilient nation.
ICCES announced that it will function as a knowledge-based platform for research, policy dialogue, and youth-driven innovation aimed at tackling issues related to climate change, environmental protection, and sustainable development.
Professor Ainun Nishat, Emeritus Professor at Brac University’s Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER), inaugurated the institute as the chief guest.
In his address, Professor Nishat emphasized the need for coordinated efforts across critical areas including adaptation, mitigation, climate finance, capacity building, technology transfer, transparency, and compliance.
He stressed that Bangladesh must also venture into unexplored fields to increase opportunities for international funding to support its climate goals.
Speakers at the launch highlighted the importance of equipping youth with Green Skills, fostering climate-focused entrepreneurship, and integrating research with advocacy to enhance practical impact.
They called on young people to actively participate in climate action initiatives, raise awareness on climate finance, and promote sustainable practices that safeguard the nation’s natural resources.
The experts also underscored the urgent need for the sustainable management of water resources, warning against overexploitation that threatens long-term ecological balance.
Additionally, they proposed the development of a specialized market for climate adaptation that would effectively bridge the gap between research and advocacy, ensuring coordinated and evidence-based policy implementation.
The launch event was attended by several distinguished personalities including AKM Sohail, UN Wing Chief at the Economic Relations Division under the Ministry of Finance; Dr Anwar Zahid, senior researcher at the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM); Dr Hasib M Irfanullah, an independent researcher on environment and climate change; and Ratul Dev, executive director of GenLab and recipient of the UNLEASH Sustainability Award.
Their participation reflected the collaborative vision behind ICCES — to bring together academia, government, and civil society in addressing one of humanity’s most pressing challenges.
The institute’s creation marks a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s commitment to sustainability and climate resilience, positioning young people as catalysts for change in achieving a greener, more sustainable future.
By focusing on research, innovation, and leadership development, ICCES aims to transform climate awareness into concrete action, empowering the next generation to take ownership of environmental solutions for decades to come.
