Marginalised people battling climate effects

Marginalised people like those with disabilities, women and girls were grappling with climate-change challenges in Bangladesh, experts told a roundtable on Tuesday.
Citing recent data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), they said women and girls were affected disproportionately, facing increased health, livelihood and well-being risks.
The speakers said this at a roundtable styled 'Impact of Climate Change on Women and Girls' hosted by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in Dhaka.
The event delved into the unique challenges faced by women and girls, and other marginalised groups like persons with disabilities while battling the ever-changing climate.
It successfully fostered insightful discussions, shared knowledge and initiated the development of strategies to mitigate and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change on these demographics.
The session commenced with opening remarks by UNOPS Bangladesh country manager Sudhir Muralidharan and a welcome speech by BIMSTEC director (environment and climate change) Tshewang Dorji T.
According to Mr Muralidharan, sustainable development demands inclusive solutions. "Today's roundtable sheds light on the urgent need to comprehend and address the alarming impacts of climate change on women and girls."
"The insights gained, substantiated by real-world statistics, will unquestionably bolster our ongoing initiatives to shape a more resilient and equitable future in the face of climate challenges."
Mr Dorji said, "Climate change along with environment is one of the core areas of BIMSTEC cooperation and BIMSTEC is poised to take appropriate measures to tackle climate change at the regional level.
The BIMSTEC has finalised the Plan of Action on Environment and Climate Change and will start implementing the plan soon.
The roundtable marks the beginning of collaborative efforts between the UNOPS and the BIMSTEC in the domain of climate change with a special focus on women and girls.
"By prioritising the unique vulnerabilities of women and girls, the UNOPS and the BIMSTEC are laying the foundation for inclusive and sustainable solutions, integral to shaping a resilient future for generations to come," added Mr Dorji.
The event, attended by professionals and experts from government, development partners and think tanks succeeded in its mission to contribute to ongoing efforts addressing climate change while promoting gender equality and inclusivity in climate action.

[email protected]