Awareness and education on the impacts of climate

change and variability for central coastal char

communities in Bangladesh
Adaptation to Climate Change Through Education and Awareness

Introduction • To identify issues/topics and to develop tools for educa-

Bangladesh is highly vulner-
able to climate change
induced adverse impacts on
tion and awareness raising of school students and teachers.
• To implement innovative ideas, techniques, events and
Study Area

programme for awareness raising of school students and

weather that will result in
teachers with the help of appropriate communication
floods, droughts, sea level
materials to be developed herein under objective 1.
rise in the coastal belt and
increase in salinity, heavy • To train and establish student cohorts to carry over
rainfall events, increase in awareness activities as a self-sustaining process.
vector borne diseases,
reduced crop yield etc. Major activities
Manifestations of climate
change and variability are a • Development and publication of Training of Trainers
serious threat to the materials and guidance books for school teachers to
economic as well as social educate students of selected schools on climate change
development of the country, issues
especially the coastal com-
munities. Measures to • Development and publication of pictorial brochures,
reduce climate change posters, stickers and establishment of environment clubs
induced vulnerability should within schools for observance of landmark environmental
therefore be accomodated in events, debates and essay competitions for awareness
the mainstream of develop- creation and motivating the students
ment agenda, so that
impacted areas are able to • A documentary film on the science, impact and adapta -
adapt to the future changes. tion to climate change on coastal livelihoods, existing
This project titled ‘Aware- adaptation practices and future pathways to demonstrate
ness and education on the the project rationale to stakeholders will be produced
impacts of climate change
and variability for central • Linking student folk and teacher cohorts with Climate
coastal char communities in Bangladesh’ is a pilot initia- Change Network of IUCN Bangladesh and other national
tive to enhance preparedness of coastal communities. and international forums and networks to continue with the
This initiative is being implemented by IUCN Bangladesh project activities
in partnership with Char Development and Settlement
Project (CDSP) III, focusing on the teachers and students • Preparation and publication of a ‘Student to Student’
in the project area. approach book as a toolkit for sustaining awareness
activities through the youth of the project area
Location
Stakeholders
The project will cover four Upazilas of Noakhali District
Primary (from Classes V-VIII) and secondary (Classes
namely; Sadar, Subarna Char, Kabirhat and Hatia
IX-XII) school and madrasa students and teachers will
(including Boyar Char).
be the main target group for education and awareness
building through this project.
Objectives of the Initiative
The main objective of this project is to educate the young Timeframe
generation of coastal communities about climate change January 2008 – June 2009
and to create enabling environment to face the challenges
of climate vulnerabilities, for appropriate adaptation and Donor
preparedness measure. The specific objectives of the
projects are: CDSP III, Royal Netherlands Government

The World Conservation Union

For more information please contact:
Remeen Firoz
IUCN Bangladesh Country Office
House No. 11, Road No. 138, Gulshan 1, Dhaka 1212,
Bangladesh, Tel: +880 2 9890395 – remeen@iucnbd.org