Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred.
Human-caused climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes in every region
across the globe. This has led to widespread adverse impacts and related losses and damages to nature and
people. Vulnerable communities who have historically contributed the least to current climate change are
disproportionately affected.
Human activities, principally through emissions of greenhouse gases, have unequivocally caused global
warming, with global surface temperature reaching 1.1°C above 1850-1900 in 2011-2020. Global
greenhouse gas emissions have continued to increase, with unequal historical and ongoing contributions
arising from unsustainable energy use, land use and land-use change, lifestyles and patterns of
consumption and production across regions, between and within countries, and among individuals.
Climate change has caused substantial damages, and increasingly irreversible losses, in terrestrial,
freshwater, cryospheric, and coastal and open ocean ecosystems. Hundreds of local losses of species have
been driven by increases in the magnitude of heat extremes with mass mortality events recorded on land
and in the ocean. Impacts on some ecosystems are approaching irreversibility such as the impacts of
hydrological changes resulting from the retreat of glaciers, or the changes in some mountain (medium
confidence) and Arctic ecosystems driven by permafrost thaw.
Climate change has reduced food security and affected water security, hindering efforts to meet Sustainable
Development Goals. Although overall agricultural productivity has increased, climate change has slowed this
growth over the past 50 years globally. Ocean warming and ocean acidification have adversely affected food
production from fisheries and shellfish aquaculture in some oceanic regions. Roughly half of the world’s
population currently experience severe water scarcity for at least part of the year due to a combination of
climatic and non-climatic drivers. In all regions increases in extreme heat events have resulted in human
mortality and morbidity. The occurrence of climate-related food-borne and water-borne diseases and the
incidence of vector-borne diseases have increased. Mental health challenges are associated with increasing
temperatures, trauma from extreme events, and loss of livelihoods and culture. Economic damages from climate
change have been detected in climate-exposed sectors, such as agriculture, forestry, fishery, energy, and tourism.
Individual livelihoods have been affected through, for example, destruction of homes and infrastructure, and
loss of property and income, human health and food security, with adverse effects on gender and social equity.
In urban areas, observed climate change has caused adverse impacts on human health, livelihoods and key
infrastructure. Hot extremes have intensified in cities. Urban infrastructure, including transportation, water,
sanitation and energy systems have been compromised by extreme and slow-onset events, with resulting
economic losses, disruptions of services and negative impacts to well-being. Observed adverse impacts are
concentrated amongst economically and socially marginalised urban residents.
Aparajeyo-Bangladesh Interventions:
We are addressing the need for environmental awareness and education in Bangladesh to reduce the country’s
carbon footprint. We envision a Bangladesh where responsible environmental living and recycling are a part of
every citizen’s daily life, whether they are youth, parents, teachers, students, employees, or employers, allowing
our contry to preserve its resources and do its part in responding to global climate change. Away from all the
action at the policy level, Aparajeyo-Bangladesh has been stepping up efforts to bring about change on the
ground. We are doing this by engaging and collaborating with the people who matter the most. Government
formulate public policy regarding climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution and clean water. But by
leveraging the power of youth and communities themselves. Aparajeyo-Bangladesh is addressing issues of
plastic pollution, reducing transport emissions and health.
Also climate change has been identified as the defining human development issue of our time. While often
viewed as a purely scientific and technical phenomenon, climate change is in fact a social, economic and
political phenomenon with profound implications for social justice and gender equality. People experience
climate change differently depending on their gender. Coping strategies towards the climate crisis may also vary
according to gender. Power relations and socially constructed gender norms shape the rights, roles, capacities
and preferences of people with different gender identities. Women are often impacted disproportionately by the
impacts of climate change compared to men. At the same time, they face limitations when it comes to
participating in local dialog and responses. Of course, the nature of these differences vary according to context,
and they are also influenced by age, ethnicity, class, and a range of other factors that interact with gender
relations. That is why an understanding of intersecting forms of oppression is important.
We support these initiatives through our own resources and encourage the conservation of the environment. This
takes place through various activities such as:
Helping the planet through Student Awareness: Since 2015, Aparajeyo-Bangladesh has been designing and
implementing creative, hands-on discussion, meetings and workshops in schools, with a focus on affecting
changes both individually and institutionally and involving students, parents, teachers, school administrators,
and the larger community. Aparajeyo-Bangladesh has been striving to spark environmental awareness and
influence behavior change in Bangladesh through the future generation. Special focus is placed on inspiring
children and adolescents to become lifelong champions of environmental responsibility. An example of a
program is the “School Organic Garden Program”. Schools in low-income areas are selected and the activity
works with students and teachers to design and build organic gardens on school property. Teachers are trained in
organic gardening techniques. The activity provides a manual of teaching resources and activities so that the
gardens can extend beyond the classroom.
Peer Support Scheme: 120 Youth Advocates (YA) with relevant backgrounds have been identified from their
own locality and trained on climate change, protection, violence, UNCRC and CEDAW to act as mentors, to
offer peer support in their working areas to victims of abuse and exploitation who work in garbage dumps where
they sort various plastic, rubber, glass, metals etc. YAs are also responsible to promote and establish Peer
Support Schemes in 264 specific areas. YAs are responsible to form a small youth committee in each area.
Through this they have introduced the Peer Support Scheme through which the Youth initiate different ventures
(wall magazine, handmade posters, leaflets or events defined by the youth) to prevent climate change. They also
collect information, introduced Complain Boxes, and ensured referrals for health related problems and legal aid
is provided to support victims of abuse and exploitation where required.
450 Community Advocates: 450 Community Advocates (CAs) have been selected and trained on climate
change issues to create awareness among owners of small factories/workers and their employees. These areas
are infested with hundreds of small factories and workshops that produce plastic products, local cosmetics,
recycle batteries, glass factories, readymade garments, footwear etc. They use various types of materials and
chemicals in their production and are oblivious to the hazards that these chemicals and the waste material cause
to the environment. Also there are large truck and bus stands located in the nearby areas where drivers and their
helpers can be reached. They also work with influence local bodies and factory owner associations in terms of
prevention of these hazards and protection of the environment. The CAs are selected from the local communities
who have some influence as well as information and interest to combat climate change. The CAs also develops a
rapport with their local leaders/local government/police and have regular communication. They meet quarterly
to discuss their progress.
300 Education Campaigns: The Youth Advocates have so far launched 300 Education Campaigns and
sensitized about 200,000 people. They conduct Education Campaigns in all targeted community centres, large
open spaces, truck stands, bus stands, educational institutions where they bring large audiences together
adolescents, parents, local communities, students to participate in these programmes. At these programmes they
portray different type of action performance, i.e. discussions, TFD show, debate or lectures. They also arrange
power point presentations, video documentaries etc on climate change issues to educate the participants and also
ensure open discussions on possible prevention measure.
Source: Annual Report 2022