Bangladesh’s Climate Future: No sustainability without women and youth

In 2015, world leaders adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a promise to build a fairer, greener, and more inclusive future by 2030.

At the heart of this agenda lie the three "Ps": Planet, People, and Prosperity—a vision of development that protects the environment, centres human well-being, and ensures equitable growth. For Bangladesh, one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, this vision is not an abstract ideal but an urgent necessity.

Yet the clock is ticking. Climate shocks are intensifying, inequality is widening, and development gains are under threat. If Bangladesh is to achieve the SDGs, we must accelerate a just transition that puts sustainability at the core of our policies. And let us be clear: sustainability is impossible without women and youth at the centre. They are both the most affected by climate breakdown and the drivers of innovation and resilience.

Planet: Safeguarding the Natural Foundations of Life

First, Bangladesh must accelerate its green energy transition. Women and youth are already innovators in this space, women-led cooperatives running solar home systems in villages, and young entrepreneurs creating affordable clean-tech solutions. Scaling such initiatives is key to achieving the target of 30% renewable energy by 2030. Rooftop solar installations, if properly regulated with fire safety standards, can democratize energy access while reducing dependence on costly fossil fuel imports. It calls for new and serious investments.

Protecting our biodiversity and natural resources is equally critical. The Bay of Bengal sustains millions of livelihoods, particularly for women in fisheries and coastal agriculture. Unsustainable practices and unchecked industrialisation threaten rivers, forests, and soil. Conservation must therefore be a national priority, with women and youth empowered as environmental stewards, not sidelined as passive victims of ecological decline.

Bangladesh has earned global recognition for disaster preparedness, but intensifying cyclones, floods, and heatwaves demand more. Community-based disaster management, where women often serve as first responders and youth networks mobilise during emergencies, must be scaled and supported with resilient infrastructure and early warning systems.

Finally, resource efficiency and circular economy approaches are not only ecological imperatives but also opportunities for youth-led innovation. From recycling startups to sustainable agriculture initiatives, young Bangladeshis are already reimagining how we produce and consume. With the right policy support, these can become drivers of a low-carbon economy.

People: Centring Human Well-Being and Social Justice

Sustainable development is meaningless without people at its heart. Climate change already displaces thousands of Bangladeshis each year, with women and children most affected by poverty, migration, and loss of livelihoods. Expanding social protection systems—cash transfers, insurance schemes, and targeted support for affected workers—must prioritise women-headed households, climate migrants, and informal workers who too often fall through the cracks.

Investing in the care economy is equally urgent. Care work, predominantly carried out by women, remains undervalued and invisible. Establishing a dignified, regulated care system would reduce women's unpaid labour burdens, provide decent jobs, and improve resilience for families facing climate-related shocks.

Access to essential services, particularly education, must be transformed to equip young Bangladeshis for a green and digital economy. With half our population under 25, we have a demographic dividend waiting to be realised. Curricula must emphasise critical thinking, climate literacy, and technical skills so youth can lead the shift to sustainability.

Public health, too, must be fortified. Rising temperatures and pollution are fueling respiratory illnesses, waterborne diseases, and malnutrition. Women, as primary caregivers, face the double burden of managing family health under worsening conditions. Strengthening health systems, ensuring universal access to clean water, and improving sanitation are therefore not optional but central to climate resilience.

Above all, these transformations require good governance and social justice. Women and youth must be active participants in decision-making, not token beneficiaries. Development that is not people-oriented, transparent, and accountable will only deepen inequality and erode public trust.

Prosperity: Building an Inclusive, Green Economy

The climate crisis is often framed as a constraint on development, but it also presents an unprecedented opportunity to reimagine prosperity. Bangladesh can position itself as a leader in the green economy, where climate action drives job creation and innovation. But this requires deliberate inclusion. Women and youth entrepreneurs need access to finance, training, and markets to thrive in emerging sectors like renewable energy, sustainable textiles, and eco-tourism.

Financing is the backbone of this transformation. Mobilising resources for climate-resilient development will demand both domestic reforms and international partnerships. Effective financing mechanisms aligned with the SDGs must channel resources to gender-responsive projects and youth-driven innovation. Bangladesh must also push developed countries to deliver on climate finance commitments, particularly the Loss and Damage Fund, to which we have a legitimate claim.

Improving the business environment is equally important. Regulatory reforms that lower the cost of doing business, cut red tape, and support small and medium enterprises will stimulate entrepreneurship. But reforms must be designed to advance equity, supporting women-owned enterprises, youth startups, and environmentally responsible businesses rather than privileging only large investors.

Digital transformation offers another lever for prosperity. Expanding digital infrastructure can improve governance, enhance transparency, and create new economic opportunities—particularly for young people and women entrepreneurs. Digital literacy programs targeted at women and marginalised communities can ensure that this revolution narrows rather than widens social divides.

In the new and reformed Bangladesh, what can be the way forward?

Bangladesh has long been celebrated as a global voice for climate justice. From championing the Climate Vulnerable Forum to pioneering community-based adaptation, we have shown that small nations can lead with vision and courage. But leadership abroad must be matched by transformation at home.

The ICJ's opinion has raised the stakes. It affirms that states are legally and morally obligated to prevent climate harm. For Bangladesh, this is a powerful tool to demand accountability from big emitters. Yet it is also a mirror held up to us: are we aligning our policies with the principles of justice, equity, and sustainability that we advocate internationally?

The path forward is clear. By focusing on Planet, People, and Prosperity—accelerating our green transition, protecting our natural resources, investing in human well-being, and building an inclusive green economy, we can chart a development model that is not only resilient but transformative. But let us be clear: effective and long-term sustainability is impossible without women and youth at the centre. They are not only the most affected by climate breakdown but also the drivers of innovation, resilience, and justice.

Bangladesh's future will not be determined by the climate crisis alone but by how boldly and inclusively we choose to respond. Procrastination or indecision comes with great costs. Delays will push the risk to another level, from where it may be difficult to retrieve. Whereas actions now with the power, vision, and agency of our women and youth will ensure opportunities.