Feature

International
Climate Champions

Yamin Tauseef Jahangir

ON 2nd May 2010 The British Council's Global Head of Climate Change Dr David Viner and Country Director Charles Nuttall OBE announced a national competition to select new International Climate Champions in Bangladesh.

Since August 2009, the British Council has supported fourteen projects in partnership with Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies. The programme is expanding global network of 3000 passionate and committed individuals aged between 14 and 35, who are willing to make a difference in their communities. According to Charles Nuttall British Council is trying to develop networks within Bangladesh and also outside the country. British Council is interested in empowering these young people to tell their stories in the world stage. British Council recognizes greater level of trust and allows the climate champions to combat the climate change. Fifteen winners will receive training and resources to implement innovative projects which will inspire others to take actions. These champions are expected to raise awareness and their views will be presented to policy makers and world leaders in international meetings. Apart from these, British Council is now developing curricular resources for schools and a training course for journalists. Dr. David Viner is a world class consultant and international speaker and has joined British Council in 2008 to lead its global climate change programme. In his speech, he talked about the Copenhagen conference and how the talk failed to earn the trust of all the countries. There is a need for community-to-community interaction and be it from the small villages to the big city life, climate change is a key issue that needs to be taken into serious consideration. Golam Rabbani, a Senior Research Officer of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced studies also added some information on climate change.

On answering a question regarding the water level increase and the possible threats, Golam Rabbani said that the predictions, which are being made, are always based on the current condition, the facts and the data available. There is a possibility that due to sedimentation new land will be created but the water area will decrease. Replying to a question on how the climate champions will succeed when the leaders of many countries are failing to bring the change, Dr David Viner said “Working with the young people will allow to build trust and these youngsters will make a difference by getting their voices heard.” Golam Rabbani said, “There are two types of roles, country based prominent role and the leadership role. The Copenhagen talk lacked the leadership role which we desperately need and there is also a need for human induced climate change.” On a question related to the training of the teachers and including climate topics in the national textbook curriculum, Dr David Viner said that certain procedures are followed to train the teachers and also to create awareness. The main issues will be discussed in the curriculum about climate change and according to Charles Nuttall the Ministry of Education will be the deciding body on this particular matter.