Feature

Stop Climate Change Before it Changes You!

Tanzina Rahman

Imagine ten years from now, you are sitting at your breakfast table, watching the morning news, the newscaster announces- “recent tsunami took away half of the country in destruction, while the other half is dying because of the dreadful disease breakout…” Having a hard time to breath, you are wondering why in the middle of December the country is caught up in this drastic storm? You turn off the television and reach for the newspaper, there again, drought, desertification, overpopulation, water crisis, economic downfall and dreadful agriculture news bombard you with the reality. What is happening?

Needless to say, the scenario portrays it all. Severe obliteration is about to take place if we do not take adequate action to save mother Earth. The situation that we are facing today, most likely is going to get worse in a few years time.

In line with this notion, Earth Club of North South University (NSU) and Junior Chamber International Bangladesh (JCI) organised a seminar themed 'Stop Climate Change Before it Changes You!' on 25th April. Aftab Mahmud Khurshid, President of Bangladesh Chapter of JCI, Tae Gun Lee, Vice President of Asia Pacific of JCI, Dr. M A Saduzzaman, Research Director of BIDS, Professor Mizan R Khan, Chair of DESM were among the panellists during the seminar. The objective of the seminar was to create awareness among the future generation about environmental conservation and the negative impact of climate change as well as on how to start entrepreneurship.

"Agriculture productivity may go down by 10-15 percent due to climate change and 21 percent land of Bangladesh will submerge due to greater incidents of flood," said Dr. MA Saduzzaman during his speech.

"But young entrepreneurs can take initiative and change the current situation. They can earn profit while benefiting the environment. Emission reduction in industry, usage of clean development mechanism and waste management, can help create a better world," he added.

People can work in environmental sectors of the economy such as conservation movement workers, environmental consultants, green business owners, green vehicles, ecology educators, organic farmers and many more. These 'green jobs' can thus work as the solution for the country's environmental and economic woes said the panellists during the seminar.

Mr. Aftab Mahmud Khurshid said as a part of environmental sustainability program that JCI undertook this year, the organisation will continue to promote environmental conservation and make positive changes in a new direction to ensure a brighter future.

The seminar ended with crest giving ceremony and question and answer session among the audience.

Photo: Bithun Mazid