A writ petition has been filed in the higher court challenging the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) 2023 in what they said a historic step towards seeking climate justice. The writ petition was led by Lawyers for Energy Environment and Development Limited (LEED) by its Counsel, Barrister Abdullah Mahmood Hasan, Advocate Abdullah Al Noman, Advocate Monera Haque Mone, and Advocate Shimon Raihan, said a press release of the platform on Wednesday. LEED is a social enterprise advocating for energy security and environmental protection. It aims to confront the government's continued reliance on fossil fuels and its failure to prioritise climate change and human rights, said the media release. In the initial hearing, a Division Bench of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Mubina Asaf issued a rule calling on respondents to show cause “as to why the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) 2023 should not be reconsidered taking account from representation of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and why the respondents should not be directed to consider and implement the Climate Prosperity Plan (CPP) 2022-2041 approved by the government in light of various International Treaties entered into by Bangladesh in the capacity of State”. This legal battle aims to ensure Bangladesh upholds its constitutional commitment to a healthy environment and its international obligations under climate agreements like the Paris Agreement and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said the press release. This case mirrors the pioneering climate lawsuits filed by citizens worldwide, including a recent action taken by children in South Korea against their government’s climate policies. It stands as a monumental step towards climate justice in South Asia and sets a vital legal precedent for holding governments accountable for their climate inaction, according to the release. Regarding this, Hasan Mehedi, Chief Executive of the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), informed the lawyers that the IEPMP 2023, which heavily relies on fossil fuels such as coal and LNG (30.7%), along with advanced technologies like liquid hydrogen and ammonia (32.8%) by 2050, directly contradicts Bangladesh’s Climate Prosperity Plan (CPP), which envisions 100% renewable energy by the same year. The petitioners assert that the IEPMP violates sections of the Environment Conservation Act and the spirit of Article 18A of the Bangladesh Constitution, which emphasizes the right to a healthy environment for current and future citizens. Read: Integrated energy-power sector master plan likely to be ready by November  The IEPMP continues its reliance on fossil fuels, which threatens both environmental sustainability and the health of future generations, as fossil fuel emissions are a primary driver of climate change, contributing to extreme weather events such as floods, cyclones, and droughts challenges to which Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable.Concerns are raised regarding the IEPMP’s reliance on unproven technologies like hydrogen and ammonia co-firing, questioning its economic feasibility. Reports also indicate a lack of transparency in its formulation, including undisclosed budgets and the exclusion of Bangladeshi experts. The IEPMP's approach is at odds with international agreements like the Paris Agreement and the Climate Vulnerable Forum Vision, which aim to enhance climate resilience and sustainable economic growth. In contrast, the MCPP advocates for renewable energy and environmental protection, aligning more closely with legal and constitutional principles. It emphasises inclusive participation from various sectors, including grassroots producers of renewable energy, and prioritizes international cooperation and financial commitments for renewable projects. Read more: Bangladesh to formulate integrated energy-power sector master plan with focus on 3E+S concept While the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has funded various energy projects in Bangladesh, its financing of fossil fuel initiatives, such as coal power plants, raises concerns about compliance with global climate commitments. The MCPP seeks to attract international support for renewable energy projects, advocating for a shift away from fossil fuel dependency, thus demonstrating a commitment to global climate action.

Speakers at a side event during the UN Climate Summit COP29 highlighted the importance of engaging men and boys alongside women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals to address the climate crisis. The event, organized by Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WOCAN), was held in Baku, Azerbaijan on Thursday. During the event, speakers emphasized the urgent need for climate solutions that are inclusive and gender-equitable, advocating for systemic changes that challenge patriarchal systems. Representing YouthNet Global, Jimran Mohammad Saiak presented the COP29 Sign-On Statement, titled “Achieving Climate Justice by Challenging Patriarchy.” Developed by the MenEngage Alliance's Global Working Group on Climate Justice, this statement advocates for a transformative approach to climate action, challenging entrenched patriarchal norms and championing feminist climate justice. The statement calls for the active involvement of men and boys as allies in supporting feminist climate goals and emphasizes the central role of women in leading sustainable climate efforts. “We cannot achieve climate justice without dismantling the structures that uphold inequality,” Saiak said on behalf of YouthNet Global. “Engaging men as allies is crucial in building a just and equitable future for all.” Sohanur Rahman, executive coordinator, YouthNet Global said, “Achieving a just transition to a sustainable future requires dismantling patriarchal structures. Engaging men and boys as partners in climate justice is vital to achieving gender equality in climate solutions.” The statement was endorsed by a coalition of global organizations, including YouthNet for Climate Justice (Bangladesh), MenEngage Alliance (Global), MÄN (Sweden), RoSa vzw (Belgium), and Unako Organisation (Africa). CSOs demand a clear and meaningful framework on NCQG based on equity and justice The COP29 Sign-On Statement, which YouthNet Global supported at the event, calls for comprehensive action on several fronts: transforming patriarchal norms that contribute to gender inequality and environmental degradation; integrating gender-responsive policies into climate action; ensuring accountability in climate decision-making; equitable climate financing from Global North countries to support vulnerable regions; protection for environmental and human rights defenders; and a transition to a caring, people-centered economy that prioritizes well-being over profit. Activists and academics, such as Dr. Stephen Burrell from the University of Melbourne and Martin Hultman from Chalmers University of Technology, have also backed the statement.  

Global Climate Strike 2022 was observed in Bangladesh with hundreds of young people turning out in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka today. ActionAid Bangladesh, with 72 countries, organized the Climate Strike in collaboration with Fridays for Future and youth groups. The goal of the climate strike is to urge all nations to act immediately in support of climate justice — by sending a loud, yet nonviolent statement, according to a press release. Read: PM to focus on peace & climate change in her UNGA speech: Momen The youngsters demanded that the government declare a ‘Climate Emergency’ and that world leaders prioritize ‘people not profit’.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday said the number of climate refugees is increasing and put emphasis on ensuring climate justice for all countries and their people.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said the government wants to see the young people in the global fight to achieve climate justice for Bangladesh.