Youth Response to Climate Change in Bangladesh

Abstract

Climate change has evolved into an issue of concern worldwide since the 1970s. Bangladesh is the most affected country, having multi-dimensional environmental challenges as a result of climate change. From 2000 to 2019, climate change cost Bangladesh $3.72 billion and caused 185 climate catastrophes. The impact of climate change and environmental hazards is directly caused by the actions of youth in their daily lives. As a result of the demographic dividend, Bangladesh has seen an increase in the working-age population since 2007, with youth constituting one-third of the total population and having the potential to fuel economic growth at the forefront. This paper investigates the role of youth in environmental conservation and prospective exploration in a dynamic and more vigilant manner, particularly in the context of Bangladesh. Thematic analysis (TA) is used to find the specific connections between youth role-playing areas, and content analysis (CA) is used to look into the potential areas. One of the best ways to conserve the environment from the effects of climate change is to empower youth. More specifically, youth have four distinct areas for activism, advocacy, and campaigning. These areas are environmental movement, community development, utility and consumption management, and capacity building in Bangladesh. Lastly, the study adds some suggestive propositions as a possible way to get the engagement of more youth in Bangladesh to protect the environment from climate change. Keywords: Youth, Climate Change, Environmental Conservation