Bangladesh launches its first Just Transition Academy in Dhaka, uniting national and global actors to advance equitable climate resilience and economic reform.
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| In Dhaka, the Just Transition Academy convenes global and national voices to chart Bangladesh’s path to a greener, fairer economic future through climate innovation. Image: Nandini |
Dhaka, Bangladesh — May 8, 2025:
Bangladesh has inaugurated its first Just Transition Academy in Dhaka, a landmark event that signals the country’s commitment to steering its economy toward environmental sustainability and social equity. The two-day academy, held from May 6 to 7, 2025, is jointly organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the Laudes Foundation, and the Thomson Reuters Foundation (TRF), with support from Team Europe and Global Affairs Canada.
The initiative convenes representatives from government ministries, employers’ and workers’ organizations, youth-led climate groups, corporate sectors, and international donors to collectively explore what a "just transition" means for Bangladesh’s workforce, environment, and future.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, opened the academy by urging policymakers to integrate just transition values into national strategy. She stressed the need for economic reforms that “protect our labourers, soil, and air,” and prepare “for the future of our children.”
Tuomo Poutiainen, ILO’s Country Director, emphasized that just transition frameworks must extend beyond formal labor to include informal workers and entire communities, giving them both voice and agency.
Echoing the call for inclusion, Maria Stridsman, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden, warned against fragmented policymaking and championed the participation of women and informal sector workers in policy dialogues to ensure fair outcomes.
Representing FAO, Mr. Jiaoqun Shi reaffirmed UN support in helping Bangladesh access climate finance, including through the Green Climate Fund, to enhance adaptation and build climate resilience in agriculture and rural sectors.
Stakeholders such as Mr. Badal Khan, Chairperson of the National Coordination Committee for Worker’s Education (NCCWE), and Mr. Ardashir Kabir, President of the Bangladesh Employers’ Federation (BEF), also spoke, stressing the collaborative roles of workers, communities, and businesses in building a fair and green economy.
The Academy features expert panel discussions, breakout sessions, and showcases from youth climate entrepreneurs. The opening panel, moderated by Naureen Chowdhury, Head of the Laudes Foundation in Dhaka, explored national definitions of just transition in collaboration with ILO’s action programme, FAO, the Bangladesh Labour Law Reform Commission, and Unilever’s ESG specialists.
As a culmination, the event is expected to produce a multi-stakeholder call to action, encouraging Bangladesh’s institutions to collectively advance a resilient, inclusive, and climate-conscious economic transition.