IUB hosts 'Preserve Planet Earth' conference

Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) hosted the inaugural event of the 'Preserve Planet Earth' International Climate Change Conference on Saturday (23 September). 

The conference, which is the first of its kind, brought together experts and stakeholders to focus on turning emerging actionable solutions into investment and employment opportunities to deal with rising global temperatures and reducing the use of fossil fuels, reads a press release.

In a video message, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP, prime minister's special envoy for climate change, said, "We are now at the onset of a planetary emergency. So, prep-time is over and impactful action is of paramount importance. Aiming to turn challenges into opportunities, we need to amplify our climactic sustainability game with strategic resource management and impactful investment on preservative measures."

In another video message, Ayesha Waseqa Khan, MP, vice chairperson of Climate Parliament Bangladesh, said there are 30 renewable energy projects under active progress of which 24 power plants are funded by the private sector and 65 more projects are being considered.

Prof Dr Saleemul Huq, OBE, director of International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) at IUB, said, "What we have anticipated for the last 30 years is now at our doorstep. The situation is steadily getting worse. We all have to come together to learn and act fast, Bangladesh, especially being a delta country. Investing in learning provides the leverage of expertise and sustainable research findings or innovative solutions will never find itself in lack of adequate funding."

Prof Saifur Rahman, president and CEO of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers  (IEEE), said, "We have been working on building awareness of climactic preservation for ages. Now that we are on the brink of an unprecedented crisis, it is time to create a different kind of awareness. We at IUB focus on nurturing this awareness as a profound sense of responsibility in the young minds of our students."

Abdul Hai Sarker, chairman of the IUB Board of Trustees, said, "IUB has always consistently demonstrated its commitment to fostering positive changes and addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing our world. We have always created scope for the students to have environmental education for the benefit of the country and the world."

IUB Trustee A Quaiyum Khan, convenor of the conference and moderator of the inaugural session, said, "As much as 79% of global warming is due to fossil fuel-produced electricity. This was alarming and catastrophic without a solution. Viable solutions are only just available globally in the last half a decade. The conference will focus on the solutions and opportunities for employment and investment nationally and worldwide. The deployment of solutions, scientists say, must be rapid and should take place over a timespan of 20 years."

IUB Vice Chancellor Tanweer Hasan said, "With the establishment of the climate fund and the emergence of the doctrine of loss of damage, we at IUB understand that we need to prepare our students with specific technical skills. We are pledge-bound to make sure that our next generation are well aware of their rights when they take part in climate negotiations."