Youth Demand Climate Accountability: National Youth Survey Presented at Manifesto Talk 2025
Dhaka, 31 May 2025 — In a powerful demonstration of youth-led climate advocacy, theYoung Climate Action Network (YOUCAN) presented the findings of a nationwide youth survey at theManifesto Talk: Youth, Environment & Climate dialogue, held at the Department of Environment, Dhaka. The initiative was part of YOUCAN’s ongoing campaign to mainstream youth perspectives into Bangladesh’s national environmental and climate policy agendas ahead of the 2025 general elections.
The survey report, unveiled byYudhishtir Chandra Biswas, Founder and Executive Director of YOUCAN, reflects the voices and priorities of over500 young people from all 64 districts of Bangladesh. With a clear focus on environmental governance, intergenerational equity, and inclusive policy-making, the presentation served as a strategic advocacy intervention aimed at influencing election manifestos and long-term planning.
🎥Watch the full presentation video here:
🔗 Facebook Video – Manifesto Talk 2025
📄Access the presentation slides and findings:
🔗 Google Drive Folder – National Youth Climate Survey
Key Survey Insights: A Generation in Crisis and Ready to Act
The findings reveal a generation that is acutely aware of the climate crisis and is demanding structural change:
- 96% of respondents support the creation of aNational Youth Climate Platform.
- Only25% believe the next government will succeed in protecting the environment.
- 56% report that their communities arenot climate resilient.
- Plastic pollution (75%),air pollution (63%), andwater pollution (53%) emerged as top environmental concerns.
Importantly,50% of youth feel excluded from climate policy processes, signaling a critical gap in participatory governance.
Strategic Demands: Youth-Led Solutions for a Sustainable Future
Survey respondents called for bold, inclusive and time-sensitive reforms:
- Adoption and enforcement ofbinding environmental and climate policies.
- Increased budget allocations forrenewable energy technologies (solar, wind, biogas).
- Compulsory environmental education at national levels to enhance public literacy.
- Legal frameworks ensuringyouth representation in climate decision-making bodies.
- Immediate action againstdeforestation, industrial pollution, andriver encroachment.
These demands are rooted in the principles ofclimate justice, with emphasis onequity,transparency, andintergenerational responsibility.
High-Level Participation and Policy Resonance
The event was attended by key national stakeholders, including:
- Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Hon’ble Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Mohammad Azaz, Administrator, Dhaka North City Corporation
- Civil society leaders, youth organizations, and media representatives
Their presence underscored growing recognition of youth as co-creators of climate solutions—not merely stakeholders, butstrategic policy actors.
A Political Imperative: Youth Inclusion in the National Agenda
“Young people don’t just want to cast their votes,” remarked Yudhishtir Chandra Biswas in his address.
“They want to shape the very policies that determine their futures. Climate protection is no longer optional—it is a question of national security and intergenerational justice.”
The Manifesto Talk serves as a catalytic step in YOUCAN’s broader campaign to institutionalizeyouth engagement in environmental governance, positioning Bangladesh as a global model for inclusive climate leadership.
About the Initiative
This survey and advocacy effort are part of YOUCAN’s ongoing commitment to theUNFCCC Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) framework, advancingpublic participation,youth empowerment, andpolicy transparency in climate action.
📬 For media inquiries, partnerships, or further information:
📧 Email:connectyoucan@gmail.com | info@youcanglobal.org
🌐 Website: www.youcanglobal.org
