IUB hosts ‘environment and changing climate 2025’ conference

The Environment & Changing Climate 2025 conference, hosted by Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) in collaboration with the Co-creating Knowledge for Local Adaptation to Climate Change in Least Developed Countries (COLOCAL) project, concluded on 21 November after two days of discussions and interdisciplinary knowledge-sharing on inclusive climate action.

Beginning on 20 November, the conference brought together national and international researchers, development practitioners and community leaders under the theme "Global Strategies and Local Actions," underscoring a commitment to community-led and context-specific climate adaptation.

Day one featured keynote presentations by Dr A Atiq Rahman, Dr Shahpar Selim and Dr Faisal Kabir on evidence-driven research and capacity-building. IUB Vice Chancellor Prof M Tamim, Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Daniel W Lund and Dr K Ayaz Rabbani, Dean of the School of Environment and Life Sciences, also addressed the inaugural session. Rupantar Theatre delivered a potgaan performance on climate justice and gender equity, followed by musical performances by the Muiz Mahfuz Band. The day ended with an alumni roundtable where graduates from IUB's Department of Environmental Science and Management discussed sectoral challenges amid global funding cuts.

Day two hosted a wide range of oral and poster presentations covering climate governance, indigenous knowledge, sustainable agriculture, energy transitions and other thematic areas. Workshops and side events further explored pathways for locally led adaptation.

NGO leaders from Dalit and Munda communities in Khulna and Satkhira shared their experiences with nature-based solutions. CIMMYT, Shushilan and the International Center for Climate Change and Development discussed tools for locally led adaptation. COLOCAL fellows from Bangladesh and Uganda presented their research, and Nirmol Bangladesh led a workshop on ocean literacy and climate resilience.

Youth engagement was a central theme, with the INFLUENCERS group conducting a session on youth-driven climate advocacy, drawing from the experiences of displaced communities. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology also hosted a session highlighting its interdisciplinary public policy programme focused on climate governance.

The conference was partially funded by the COLOCAL Project, supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, which works to build capacity for locally led climate adaptation across Bangladesh, Nepal, Uganda and Mozambique.