Bangladeshi young climate justice and human rights activist Sohanur Rahman, a 27-year-old, has been named one of the five laureates of the prestigious Young Activists Summit (YAS) 2024. The event, co-organized by dev.tv, the United Nations Office at Geneva, Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS), and the Geneva Graduate Institute, highlights outstanding young leaders working on sustainability and human rights initiatives. Sohanur was recognized for his groundbreaking work in promoting climate action and democratic participation in Bangladesh, confirmed organiser website www.youngactivistssummit.org.
The summit also honored other young changemakers, including Marley Dias (USA), Shanley McLaren (France), Alvaro Quiroz (Mexico), and Cynthia Houniuhi (Solomon Islands) for their inspiring work in fields such as black representation, gender-based violence, homelessness, and human rights. Sohanur’s participation in this prestigious event solidifies his status as a leading youth activist, not just in Bangladesh but globally, as he continues to champion climate action and democratic reforms. Sohanur’s recognition at the summit underscores his contributions to the global climate movement and the importance of youth engagement in tackling the climate crisis.
The theme for this year’s summit, “Go Far, Go Together,” emphasizes collective action for global change. Sohanur, alongside four other remarkable young activists from around the world, will receive a grant to implement a field project. The awards ceremony will be held at the Palace of Nations in Geneva on November 19, 2024, and will be broadcast online to an audience of nearly 20,000 participants from 144 countries. YAS’s partners play a vital role in empowering young Laureates, amplifying their voices globally, and building a community of dedicated young people advancing human rights and environmental sustainability.
According to the Young Activists Summit (YAS), Sohanur Rahman’s journey toward becoming a climate activist began after surviving Super Cyclone Sidr as a child in Bangladesh. This experience gave him firsthand insight into the extreme vulnerability of his country to climate-induced disasters, which led him to dedicate his life to climate action.
In 2016, Sohanur founded YouthNet for Climate Justice, a youth-led organization that focuses on raising awareness about climate change, particularly among younger generations. One of YouthNet’s major successes came in 2019, when a campaign they led pushed the Parliament of Bangladesh to declare the climate crisis a planetary emergency. Additionally, the organization played a pivotal role in halting the construction of ten coal plants, a significant achievement in the fight against fossil fuel dependency.
More recently, Sohanur and YouthNet Global have been involved in student-led peaceful protests advocating for greater democracy in Bangladesh. These efforts contributed to the ousting of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, who had been in power for 15 years. Sohanur continues to fight for climate action to be prioritized by the interim government, emphasizing the need for strong policies to address the ongoing climate crisis.
In response to his recognition, Sohanur commented, “This award is not just for me, but for the youth of Bangladesh who have stood up for climate justice and democracy. Our fight is a collective one, and this platform allows us to amplify our voices and take our mission even further. We are determined to create a more just, sustainable future for all.”
