Teach For Bangladesh hosts climate education advocacy forum 2025

Teach For Bangladesh (TFB) convened more than 80 participants—including students, Fellows, alumni, educators, government officials, civil society leaders, and private sector partners—at the Climate Education Advocacy Forum 2025, held at the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre in Dhaka.

The forum aimed to promote climate education in schools and foster collective climate leadership in Bangladesh's climate-vulnerable context.

The event showcased TFB's Climate Education and Leadership (CEL) initiative, launched in 2023 in partnership with Teach For All, as a transformative model for building environmentally conscious students and communities. Attendees heard about how climate education is being introduced in classrooms through storytelling, hands-on student-led projects, and teacher–parent collaboration.

The forum opened with a joint address from Rajasree Guha, Deputy Manager, Partnership Development and Resource Mobilization at TFB, and Mowmita Khan, Teaching and Leadership Coach at TFB. They underscored the urgent need for collective climate leadership in a country acutely exposed to the effects of climate change.

A school team presentation—featuring a TFB Fellow, student, teacher, and parent—highlighted community efforts to encourage sustainable practices such as rooftop gardening, tree distribution, and household waste segregation.

A panel discussion titled "Classrooms as Climate Catalysts", moderated by Sujan Daring, senior manager, alumni impact at TFB, brought together frontline voices. Fellows and alumni shared practical experiences of integrating climate learning into classrooms and promoting environmental stewardship.

Tahiya Islam, a 2022 Fellow and now alumna, reflected: "When I started, I had to learn climate education from scratch. I began with simple concepts—like why plastic is harmful—and introduced plants into the classroom to help students connect emotionally with nature. Real change begins with small, consistent actions."

Youth climate activist Shohanur Rahman issued a stark warning: "By 2050, one-third of Bangladesh will be underwater. Climate education is not just about planting trees—it's about adaptation and survival."

Panelist Mohammad Mahmodul Hasan, Head of Programme, Water, Food, and Climate at Helvetas Bangladesh, emphasized the need for contextual climate education, stronger policy advocacy, and the pivotal role of schools in building resilience.

Urmi Irani Khan, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, emphasized that small, sustained actions have the power to drive meaningful environmental change.

Special guest Harun Ortac, chief executive officer of United Aygaz, highlighted the private sector's responsibility: "Being an energy company, it is not only about empowering people—it is about protecting the environment. That is why our partnership with Teach For Bangladesh is so meaningful. If we stand together, we can act together. There is no limit."

Chief guest Professor Robiul Kabir Chowdhury, chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), affirmed the government's commitment to mainstreaming climate education: "Curriculum is the constitution of the education system. Climate education must be embedded across all subjects from Class 1 to Class 10 to build resilience and critical thinking. This is no longer optional—it is essential for our national survival and development."

In her closing remarks, Munia Islam Mozumder, chief executive officer of Teach For Bangladesh, called on all stakeholders to embrace climate education as a collective responsibility: "The climate crisis is not just an environmental issue—it is an education issue, a justice issue, a future-of-humanity issue. Education cannot change the world, but it can change people—and people, in turn, can change the world. What we practise and how we lead together is what truly matters."

The forum concluded with a collaborative group discussion on "Collective Leadership for Climate Resilience," where participants identified key strategies: expanding curriculum integration, deepening teacher-parent engagement, and building policy advocacy networks. These actionable outcomes position TFB's CEL initiative to scale its impact. The event underscored three main takeaways: (1) the urgent need to embed climate education throughout schooling, (2) the power of small, sustained actions across communities, and (3) the critical role of collective leadership in driving climate resilience. As Bangladesh reforms its national curriculum, the event planted vital seeds for advancing policy, strengthening partnerships, and positioning TFB as a pioneering voice in climate education.