Cox’s Bazar native Jimran Mohammad Saiak plans to represent Bangladesh at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, bringing the severe climate crisis in coastal cities to the attention of the world. Through YouthNet Global, he inspires youth to take action against natural disasters.
Jimran Mohammad Saiak – from the coastal city of Cox’s Bazar – is all set to represent Bangladesh in the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference of the UNFCCC Parties, more commonly known as COP29, which will be held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
The conference is a global forum to address the threat of climate change, where climate activists and world leaders from across the globe will discuss carbon emission reduction, adaptation, and justice.
For Jimran, who grew up facing natural disasters in coastal areas, this is not just participation in a conference, but an opportunity to bring the story of coastal communities’ plight to the international arena.
Childhood, and initiation to climate crisis
Growing up on the Cox’s Bazar coast, the impact of natural disasters on Jimran’s life is undeniable. His childhood experiences, from storms and floods damaging his home to loss of crops and livelihoods, have led him to this path.
“Whenever we faced adversity during my childhood, everyone in my family would say it was a touch of bad luck,” said Jimran, adding, “But growing up, I realised that climate change is behind it, and it is an injustice to us.”
This reality opened his eyes. He feels that even as developed nations benefit from carbon emissions and industrialisation, disasters are becoming increasingly difficult to tackle for people like him in coastal areas.
Such discrepancies have made him a climate activist. “I realised that we have to make a change, and no one will fight for us if we do not stand up for ourselves,” Jimran said.
Jimran’s work with YouthNet Global
Jimran joined YouthNet Global to sensitize and mobilise the youth of Cox’s Bazar in response to climate change. Acting as a representative of this organisation, he sensitizes coastal youth on climate issues and inspires them to take leadership.
YouthNet Global, a youth organization, works in coastal areas across forty-five districts including Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh.
The organisation is also involved in various activities, including skill development of youth regarding climate and environment, awareness raising meetings, seminars, tree plantation programmes, and providing disaster relief in climate vulnerable areas.
Jimran said, “The key goal of our work is to make the youth aware and responsible citizens. We want them to be aware of their rights and take the lead against climate change.”
Local leadership on climate change
Jimran organizes various activities to raise awareness about the problems of the coastal people in Cox’s Bazar. This includes mobilizing people to fight the climate crisis. Jimran believes that the coastal people must be empowered.
“We understand our problems, so we can create our solutions as well,” he added.
Due to climate change, the amount of cropland and fresh water sources are shrinking in the coastal areas of Bangladesh, including in Cox’s Bazar, triggering a loss of livelihood.
Jimran trains the local youth so that they can escort people to safety during natural disasters and deliver emergency aid.
Importance of participation in int’l conferences
Jimran’s participation in the COP29 conference is a significant step not only for him, but also for the coastal people of Bangladesh. In this conference, he wants to highlight the crises faced by Bangladesh’s coastal zones, and daily struggles of the people living in these regions.
He is optimistic that the participation of young workers like him at the international level will help to raise global awareness regarding the crises in developing countries.
“By attending this conference, I will have the opportunity to convey our situation to the world leaders. We have only one demand from the developed countries – they should not impose the cost of their past mistakes onto us,” said Jimran.
Aims and expectations
Jimran Mohammad Saiak believes that concerted efforts at the local and international levels are needed to combat the adverse effects of climate change. He hoped that the COP29 conference would take decisions that would give hope to the local coastal communities.
He hoped that developed countries would deliver their promised grants and aid in time so that the coastal people could cope with the effects of climate change.
Jimran said, “We want a world where everyone can live equally. Developed countries should reduce their carbon emissions and provide financial support for adaptation to countries like ours.”
Plans for the future
After COP29, Jimran is planning to launch new programmes for climate awareness in different districts across the country, including in Cox’s Bazar.
He hopes that the experience of participating in this conference will inspire the youth of his region and they will participate more actively in climate action.
Jimran’s dream is to establish Cox’s Bazar as a shining example on how to tackle the impacts of climate change, where people are taking the initiative to protect their livelihoods and the environment.
“I want everyone in Cox’s Bazar to be aware of this crisis and fight this war from their own position. If we all work together, a sustainable future is possible,” he said.
Jimran’s participation in the COP29 conference is a message not only for Bangladesh, but also for the world – everyone must come together to fight climate change. Not only do developing countries suffer from the climate crisis, but this is also a global issue too.
Young climate activists such as Jimran have proven that even a small initiative to tackle such a crisis can have a significant impact.
“I want world leaders to listen to us and take our fight against climate change seriously. We are not just seeking aid, we have come to stand on the world stage with our rights,” said Jimran.
