The Bangladesh Climate Action Forum, organized by the Bangladesh Apparel Exchange (BAE), was held on 10 October 2024 Thursday at Radisson blu Water Garden Hotel, Dhaka. The forum is supported by key partners, including Apparel Impact Institute, Cascale, the European Union, GIZ, H&M, the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, Bangladesh, PDS Limited, and Target Bringing together industry leaders, Government, climate enthusiasts, innovators, brands, development organizations, institutions, policymakers, and academics.
The Bangladesh Climate Action Forum 2024 unites many contributors to advancing climate action and sustainability. Government agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources; Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and the Bangladesh Power Management Institute (BPMI), play a critical role in shaping policy discussions. Key diplomatic missions are actively involved, including the Embassy of Denmark in Bangladesh, the Embassy of France in Bangladesh, the Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh, and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany. The European Commission’s participation further reinforces the forum’s global perspective. Organizations, institutions, and associations including the Laudes Foundation, USAID Bangladesh, Oxfam in Bangladesh, BlueWin, and Cornell University, provide essential expertise, along with apparel manufacturers such as Epic Group, Jamuna Group, PRAN-RFL Group, Shin Shin Group, TEAM Group, and innovator SOLshare.
The fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions, exceeding the emissions from all international flights and shipping combined. This stark reality calls for immediate decarbonization efforts. By leveraging innovative low-carbon technologies, we can achieve a 50% reduction in emissions, demonstrating the power of collective action for a sustainable future.
The theme of this year’s Bangladesh Fashion: Driving Collective Climate Action highlights the urgent need for sustainability within the fashion and apparel sector. We aim to enhance our expertise in decarbonization and climate resilience through impactful dialogue and capacity-building.
The day-long Bangladesh Climate Action Forum 2024 feature a comprehensive program, including keynote addresses, panel discussions, presentations, workshops, and the launch of two critical initiatives. keynote addresses, with topics ranging from Climate Crisis & Fashion: Road for Bangladesh, Decarbonization Pathways for Bangladesh, Climate Impacts, Adaptation and Resilience Priorities for Fashion Industry in Bangladesh, Funding Decarbonizations & Presentation by PDS. The panel sessions cover Unblocking Decarbonization Roadblocks, Navigating the Future of CPPAs in Bangladesh, Climate Adaptation, Mitigation and Resilience: Road Forward, Climate Justice, Equity and Shared Responsibility, and Funding Decarbonization. The launch of two pivotal initiatives occur during the event: the Soldiered ‘Better Mills Initiative’ and the OnetrueSOLar Fund. In addition, key presentations focus on Solar Rooftop System Optimization, Thermal Energy System Optimization, and Clean by Design: Lessons from Bangladesh and Impact.
The engineering workshop is supported by innovators and experts from industry-leading organizations, including Armstrong Fluid Technology, Forbes Marshall, Grant Thornton Bharat LLP, Illukkumbura Industrial Automation (Pvt) Ltd., and Jinko Solar. Each organization brings unmatched expertise in sustainability, energy optimization, and cutting-edge green technologies, ensuring attendees leave with actionable strategies to apply in their operations. Over 300 engineers from apparel manufacturing units will join & get the opportunity to gain practical strategies to drive tangible progress toward sustainability and decarbonization within their organizations. GIZ Bangladesh will be organizing a panel discussion on eco-friendly cooling solutions as part of the engineering workshops.
Bangladesh Climate Action Forum 2024 signifies a commitment to collective ambition and strategic foresight in addressing climate challenges. This initiative lays the groundwork for future climate leadership, promoting collaboration and a sustainable, low-carbon future for all.
“Achieving a net-zero carbon future is not just a necessity, it’s an urgent responsibility. We must align our industries, particularly the fashion and apparel sector, with sustainable practices that not only reduce carbon emissions but also build resilience for the future. Now is the time for collective action to ensure that our planet thrives for generations to come.” — Mostafiz Uddin, Founder & CEO of Bangladesh Apparel Exchange.
The event honored by the presence of distinguished opening speakers, Special Guest Dr. M. Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adviser to the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources; Special Guest Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, emphasize the critical environmental priorities shaping government initiatives. Special Guest Lutfey Siddiqi, the Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy for International Affairs, provide a strategic overview of Bangladesh’s international climate commitments. Complementing these national voices will be contributions from global leaders, including Guest of Honor H.E Michael Miller, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh; Guest of Honor H.E Achim Tröster, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany; and Guest of Honor Thijs Woudstra, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Their participation underscores the international collaboration required to advance Bangladesh’s sustainability goals.
Distinguish panel speakers includes Riaz Hamidullah, Additional Foreign Secretary (Multilateral & Regional), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh, Serge Giacomotto, Policy Officer on Sustainable Finance, European Commission, Edwin Koekkoek, First Counsellor & Team Leader, Green Inclusive Development, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, Abdullah Hil Rakib, Managing Director, TEAM Group & Senior Vice President, BGMEA, Mohammad Sohel Sadat, Chairman, Shin Shin Group & Director, BGMEA, Ziaur Rahman, Regional Country Manager, H&M, Shujaat Ali, Senior Managing Director, Sourcing & PSQA Target Sourcing Services Bangladesh & Pakistan, Lisa Frost, Climate Programs Director, Apparel Impact Institute, Vidhura Ralapanawe, Executive Vice President, Epic Group & Member Board of Directors, Cascale, Tuomo Poutiainen, Country Director, ILO Bangladesh, Kalpona Akter, Founder & Executive Director, Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity, Nishat Chowdhury, Program Manager, Partnership for Cleaner Textile (PaCT) Program, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Faisal Rabbi, Energy Specialist, World Bank, Shayan Shafi, Energy Team Leader, USAID, and many more share their insights.
A Beacon of Hope for Our Planet : (1) Understanding the Climate Crisis in Bangladesh (2) Moving Towards a Net-Zero Carbon Future (3) Shaping a Sustainable Future Together (4) 4 Keynotes, 5 Panel Discussions, 6 Presentations, 6 Workshop, 2 launching events, 450+ Participants, 42+ Speakers.