Speakers at a national dialogue called upon the government to further organise the projects related to climate change and adaptive social protection.
Bangladesh Social Protection Advocacy Network (BSPAN), a network of 18 non-governmental organisations and trade unions; arranged the dialogue on ‘Climate Change and Adaptive Social Protection’ in the city on Saturday (October 7, 2023).
Government representatives, labour leaders, researchers, and other stakeholders participated in discussion at the event with Dr. SM Morshed, a consultant at OSHE Foundation (Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Foundation); in the chair.
Dr. Mohammad Moktar Hossain, a director (joint secretary) at Department of Social Services under Ministry of Social Welfare; attended the national dialogue on climate change as the chief guest, while SM Enamul Haque, director of the Department of Labour; and Dr. Abul Kalam Azad, a deputy secretary at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) under Ministry of Agriculture; also spoke on the occasion, among others.
Speakers of the event highlighted the gravity of the climate change challenges confronting Bangladesh and commended the government’s efforts in this regard while underscoring the need for further action.
They discussed the pressing challenges posed by climate change and the need for more effective adaptive social protection measures. They raised some issues and demands during their speeches in the national dialogue.
Speaking at the event, labour leaders emphasised the vulnerability of workers to climate change impacts and called upon the government to incorporate workers into the Adaptive Social Security Programme.
Some other speakers called for a more organised and targeted approach to ongoing climate change and social protection initiatives.
The importance of expanding research efforts to inform policy decisions and programme design was stressed at the event. The speakers also recommended motivating and involving youth in climate change and adaptive social protection initiatives in order to enhance programme effectiveness.
Speaking as the chief guest, Mohammad Moktar Hossain highlighted the need for further expansion due to the high number of vulnerable individuals in the country.
In his presidential speech, Dr. SM Morshed underscored the critical role of adaptive social protection in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and urged the government to take more proactive steps in this area.
Tahrin, a research fellow; pointed out that only 28 per cent of the population covered by social protection programs is currently receiving assistance, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive approach. This would entail formulating specific programs based on the collection and analysis of data related to at-risk individuals.
The dialogue concluded with the formation of a consensus around the importance of furthering climate change and adaptive social protection initiatives in Bangladesh.