Shakti Foundation is proud to be one of the lead organizations at the 'Regional Climate Summit 2023’ held at Hotel Sheraton, Banani from September 8 to 10, 2023.
Under the segment of Environment and Climate Change, Shakti Foundation led the session on "Harmony with Nature: Balancing Development and Ecosystem Management". The discussions centered on achieving a just equilibrium among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations. Special focus was given on clean air in Dhaka for improving quality of living and restoring the balance with nature.
Professor James J. Schauer, PhD, PE, MBA, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Science Envoy, US Department of State, participated as the keynote speaker. His speech was on prioritizing air quality within environmental and climate sustainability programs in Dhaka City.
Mr. Md. Atiqul Islam, the Honorable Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), graced the session as the Chief Guest and a distinguished speaker on the panel. Other panelists included Ms. Amy Cass, Economic Officer, US Embassy; Mr. S.M. Munjurul Hannan Khan, Phd, Executive Director, Nature Conservation Management; Dr. Daniel Novak, First Secretary, Embassy of Sweden; Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Project Coordinator, WASH, Health System and Population Studies Division, icddr,b; Ms. Catalina Ochoa, Senior Urban Transport Specialist, World Bank; and Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Chief Executive, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association. The panel was moderated by Deputy Executive Director of Shakti Foundation, Mr. Imran Ahmed.
In his speech, the Honorable Mayor spoke about current DNCC initiatives focused on green public spaces, biodiversity revival, sustainable mass transit and awareness building to tackle the challenges of air pollution. He also highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships to curb deadly methane gas emissions arising from landfills. He said, “For the first time in the history of Bangladesh, we are going to set up a 42.5 megawatts Waste to Energy Incineration Plant. We are going to give 3,000 tons of waste everyday to generate 42.5 megawatts energy daily. The work has already started”.
On this occasion, Deputy Executive Director of Shakti Foundation, Mr. Imran Ahmed said “As Bangladesh has developed, the challenges have also shifted. Climate change is at the forefront of these challenges. The time for intervention is now”.
The three-day conference was jointly hosted by The Climate Parliament Bangladesh, the Earth Society, and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF). Among the attendees were members of parliament from India, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Maldives, foreign ambassadors and representatives, prominent policymakers, practitioners, businesses and civil society.