As the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) convenes in Belém, Brazil, a large-scale Global Climate Strike took place today in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, calling for climate justice and urgent action from world leaders. More than 500 young climate activists from 13 youth organisations joined the demonstration today in solidarity with ActionAid Bangladesh, demanding a greener, fairer, and more equitable world.
Young people from diverse communities gathered to amplify their call for justice-centred climate action. Carrying colourful banners and placards, the activists urged governments to end fossil fuel financing, divest from fossil fuels, invest in renewable energy, and ensure a sustainable, just future for all.
Reiterating the agenda for a just transition, the young activists called on world leaders to ensure that COP30 becomes a decisive moment for climate justice, particularly for communities in the Global South. They emphasised that global climate negotiations must not fail again, urging leaders to move beyond empty commitments and take concrete, justice-oriented actions with clear accountability.
The strike extended far beyond Dhaka, with young activists joining in from more than 24 districts, including Khulna, Netrokona, Bandarban, Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh, Patuakhali, Bhola, Rajshahi, Manikganj, Jamalpur, Sherpur, Habiganj, Noakhali, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Barguna, Kurigram, Teknaf, Chattogram, and Cox’s Bazar. Thousands of members of Global Platform Local Youth Hubs also took part, expressing solidarity with the global Fridays for Future movement.
Across the country, the vibrant and peaceful marches echoed demands for climate justice and an equitable transition. Young people used a range of hashtags to amplify their movement, including: JustTransitionNow, FundOurFuture, ClimateFinance, StopFossilFuel, ClimateJusticeNow, PayUpForLossAndDamage, ClimateStrike, and EndFossilFuel.
Youth climate activist Sadia Akter said, “A just transition must create green jobs, ensure decent working conditions, facilitate technology transfer, and support youth-led solutions. A green economy must be youth-friendly, with accessible climate finance to help young people turn eco-friendly ideas into action. No one should be left behind in the shift towards a sustainable future.”
Expressing solidarity with the movement, Md Nazmul Ahsan, Lead of the Youth and Just Society Team at ActionAid Bangladesh, said, “Ahead of COP30, we stand with the young people across the country who are raising their voices for climate justice. We fully support their demands for a just transition—one that upholds their rights to livelihood, decent employment opportunities, and protection from climate vulnerability. We also echo their call for unconditional financial support to strengthen and empower youth-led organisations at the grassroots.”
Bangladesh, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, remains at the forefront of the fight against climate injustice. Under its Fund Our Future campaign, and in solidarity with the Fridays for Future movement, ActionAid Bangladesh continues to mobilise thousands of young climate activists nationwide to push for an end to harmful fossil fuel operations and increased investment in renewable, green, and sustainable energy initiatives.
The enduring demands of young climate activists signal a future shaped by justice—today and in the years to come.
