Youth activism in climate change in Bangladesh: Are we doing it right?

Most climate movement organisations are motivated by raising funds and gathering visibility rather than meaningfully engaging with domestic political actors. Photo: TBS

In recent years, youth activism in climate change has become a significant force globally, and Bangladesh is no exception. With the country facing severe climate vulnerabilities—rising sea levels, cyclones, and floods—the involvement of youth is not just desirable but necessary. However, a growing concern is the increasing tokenism and superficiality in youth engagement efforts. While platforms and events supposedly highlight young voices, genuine influence and meaningful participation often remain elusive. 

This article tries to examine the landscape of youth activism in Bangladesh's climate discourse, using examples from the last five years to reveal the underlying issues and propose pathways for more impactful involvement. 

The rise of youth climate activism in Bangladesh 

Bangladeshi youth have been active in the climate movement for years, spearheading awareness campaigns, participating in global summits, and organising community-level initiatives. Notable events include the nationwide climate strikes inspired by Greta Thunberg's Fridays for Future movement and localised actions like the 'Save the Sundarbans' campaign. These efforts demonstrate the potential of youth to drive change and highlight the acute awareness among Bangladeshi youth of their nation's climate vulnerabilities. 

However, beyond the headlines and high-profile engagements, a troubling pattern emerges: 

Youth participation is frequently reduced to symbolic acts of superficiality lacking structural impact. 

Narrowing to my area of work and experience, having had the opportunity to closely observe, work with, and monitor various individual and collective youth networks and bodies for several years, I've noted a few things: 

 Youth inclusion in policy discussions: attempts at youth-washing 

High-profile events such as the National Youth Climate Summit and various dialogues under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change have often featured youth speakers. Yet, their contributions rarely translate into actionable policy changes. Youth representatives are frequently invited to provide opening remarks or symbolic endorsements, but their recommendations lack pathways for integration into decision-making processes.

For instance, youth were consulted during the preparation of Bangladesh's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) update in 2021, but their inputs had minimal visibility in the final document. 

Bangladesh's overall landscape of youth development is marred with superficial claims of youth voices being 'heard' or 'recognised.'. 'Youth-washing' is rampant everywhere, which simply involves tokenistic moves such as merely having a known youth face in a panel discussion, reinforcing a sham version of youth representation. 

The 'poster child' phenomenon

Many governmental and non-governmental organisations spotlight young activists as symbols of hope and resilience. These individuals are often showcased at conferences and in media campaigns, but their roles are seldom empowered with resources or decision-making authority. The focus remains on their personal stories rather than their policy insights or project proposals. This phenomenon not only places an undue burden on individual activists but also diverts attention from systemic solutions to climate challenges. 

Limited influence in international platforms

Bangladeshi youth have been increasingly present at international climate events such as COP26 and COP27. While participation in these forums is vital, the extent of their influence remains questionable. Often, youth are relegated to side events or networking sessions with little opportunity to engage in core negotiations or influence national delegations. This reduces young people to mere "spectators" rather than active contributors, despite their visibility. 

A critical analysis of the causes

As we look into the root causes behind the lack of meaningful youth engagement, one of the major observations points towards the structural barriers in decision-making. Youth activism operates within a broader context of hierarchical and centralised decision-making in Bangladesh. The lack of institutionalised pathways for youth to influence policy perpetuates tokenism. Even when youth are involved in consultations, their role is often advisory at best, with no mechanisms to ensure accountability or implementation of their recommendations. 

Secondly, the scarcity of resources and lack of capacity remain significant impediments.  While enthusiasm among young activists is high, access to resources, funding, and training remains limited. Many youth-led initiatives struggle to sustain themselves beyond initial project phases, reducing their impact. Moreover, the focus on showcasing young leaders often comes at the expense of building organisational capacity or supporting grassroots initiatives that address systemic issues. 

Lastly and most importantly, if one takes a look at the dynamics of youth visibility, a selected group of elite, well-connected, and privileged youth always seem to grab the limelight, while youth driving change at the grassroots level are deprived of recognition. This not only strengthens the rural-urban divide but also disseminates a very misleading message that 'networking is the only way out.'

Additionally, many seemingly 'well-connected' youth initiatives have been co-opted by political or corporate interests, diluting their authenticity and effectiveness. Partnerships with established institutions can provide visibility but often come with strings attached, limiting the ability of youth groups to critique or challenge existing policies and practices. This co-option can turn genuine activism into performative allyship, where institutions gain legitimacy without committing to real change. 

Pathways to overcome tokenism 

To move beyond tokenism, it is essential to create structured mechanisms for youth involvement in decision-making processes. This includes reserved seats for youth representatives in advisory 

councils, policy committees, and climate negotiation teams. Such representation should be 

backed by transparent selection processes and accountability mechanisms to ensure that youth voices are genuinely heard and considered. 

Secondly, providing young activists with the tools, resources, and training they need to lead effectively is crucial. This includes mentorship programs, funding opportunities for youth-led projects, and access to technical knowledge. Building organisational capacity among youth groups will enable them to sustain their efforts and engage in long-term advocacy. At the same time, investing in specialised training for young climate negotiators is of critical importance, considering the visible vacuum of qualified, capable youth in this particular area. 

Thirdly, partnerships between youth organisations and established institutions should be based on mutual respect and shared goals, rather than symbolic endorsements. Genuine collaboration involves co-creation of projects, shared decision-making, and accountability. Institutions should be willing to share power and resources, rather than merely showcasing youth involvement. 

Finally, it is high time that we acknowledged that the climate movement in Bangladesh is not monolithic. Ensuring that diverse voices—especially those from marginalised communities—are heard is essential for meaningful engagement. This includes young women, indigenous youth, and those from climate-affected regions. Amplifying these voices will not only make the movement more inclusive but also more representative of Bangladesh's climate realities. 

Youth activism has the potential to be a transformative force in Bangladesh's climate response, but only if it moves beyond tokenism and superficial engagement. By institutionalising youth participation, investing in capacity building, promoting genuine collaboration, and amplifying diverse voices, we can create a more inclusive and impactful climate movement. The future of Bangladesh's climate resilience depends on empowering its youth—not just as symbols of hope but as agents of change. 

Lamia Mohsin.

Lamia Mohsin is a development professional and researcher working on climate change, governance and public policy. 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.