Youth4NDCs, in collaboration with Concern Worldwide, Pushes for Integrating Health, and Nutrition, into National Climate Commitments.
Speakers stressed the urgent need to incorporate health services, food security, and nutrition into the NDC framework, emphasizing a climate-resilient health infrastructure to withstand growing climate impacts. They urged in a roundtable discussion aimed at promoting health-inclusive Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that took place in Dhaka on 31st Oct, led by Youth4NDCs, a youth-driven platform advocating for youth engagement in NDC processes, with support from Concern Worldwide Bangladesh.
The dialogue brought together multi-sector stakeholders to address the intersections of health and climate resilience, proposing specific policy recommendations for the upcoming revision of Bangladesh’s NDC in 2025.
Amanullah Porag, the founder of Youth4NDCs, stressed the critical gaps in the current NDC, saying, “NDCs are the cornerstone of a country’s climate action plans, yet our current NDC lacks a robust stance on health-inclusive climate actions. Achieving climate justice means recognizing the fundamental link between health and climate policies.”
Felix Helgesson, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh, underscored the importance of this revision period in the lead-up to COP29, stating, “This is a crucial time for civil society, development partners, academia, and more to rally efforts to include health in national climate actions for sustainable, long-term impact.”
Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet, highlighted the climate-related risks to food security, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), and mental health, especially for vulnerable communities. “By prioritizing sustainable food systems, inclusive healthcare, and mental well-being in our climate commitments, we can protect lives, strengthen resilience, and work toward a healthier, more equitable Bangladesh,” he stated.
Youth activist Taieba Tasnim Raafa further emphasized the need for a gender-responsive approach, noting the heightened vulnerability of women and girls to climate impacts and the importance of gender sensitivity in health-inclusive climate planning.
Attendees, including representatives from iccddrb, Sajida Foundation, Jame P Grant School of Public Health, AVAS, NSS, Save the Children, and youth climate-health advocates, agreed on a multi-sectoral, whole-of-society approach for health-inclusive NDCs. The discussion concluded with a shared commitment to integrating health and gender in Bangladesh’s climate policies, underscoring the nation’s dedication to building resilience for a sustainable future.
