Photo: Collected
Young people have demanded public investment banks and private sector organisations to redirect the investments made in fossil fuel and in harmful agribusiness towards more sustainable projects, renewable energy, and agroecology.
They made the demand from a rally in front of the National Press Club. The protest ended with a call for climate justice.
ActionAid, a leading NGO organised the gathering.
Young people who participated in the Global Climate Strike stated that the fossil financers from the Global North are the primary cause of the manmade climate crisis, neocolonial exploitation, wars, and human rights violations.
With the capitalistic mindset of making a profit, the historically largest emitters of greenhouse gases are responsible for the climate destruction that is particularly and disproportionately harming youth, farmers, women, and marginalised communities in the Global South.
These practices are also increasing the ecological debt of the Global North, that they owe to the most affected communities of climate crisis.
Thousands of young people from Activista Bangladesh Platform of ActionAid Bangladesh and more than 20 youth organizations attended the Global Climate Strike this time.
In the gathering, young activists along with people from all walks of life demanded climate justice through slogans, placards, figures, songs, plays and posters demanding ‘FixTheFinance’, ‘End Fossil Finance Now’; ‘Invest in Renewables’; ‘Stop Financing Harmful Agribusiness’; ‘Climate Justice Now’; ‘Invest in Agroecology’ and many more.
Young activist Fahida Sultana said, “Today, we are fighting to bring an end to fossil finance and focus more on renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. We are being hurt by the profit-hungry mentality of the wealthy. Our future cannot be sacrificed for profit for greedy corporations.”
Md. Nazmul Ahsan, Lead-Young People, ActionAid Bangladesh remarked, “In solidarity with the young people, we raise our voices in a resounding call to dismantle fossil finance and prioritize sustainable investments in renewable energy and agroecology”.
Farah Kabir, Country Director, of ActionAid Bangladesh expressed, “In the wave of global youth-led climate actions, ActionAid Bangladesh supports young climate activists and their platforms across the country to act and demand climate justice”.
She said Bangladesh is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, therefore we echo the demand of young people to put an end to fossil fuels and finance green transitions.
Furthermore, she urged for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine.
“We stand in firm solidarity with the innocent children and women who are being slaughtered by occupational force”, she said.
We believe that the choices we made now will shape the world for generations to come in the realm of achieving justice.”
Young people also urged for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine and stop the inhumane war that is going on right now.
They expressed their deep empathy and sorrow for all the civilian especially small children and infant who lost their precious lives.
Messenger/Sumon
