The Intersection of Governance, Environmental Sustainability, and Youth Empowerment
“When it comes to environmental sustainability, we are not just referring to one generation. The cleanliness of air affects all generations. We must have a governance where we can say yes and also no, unlike so far, where we only said yes.”
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Honourable Adviser, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of Bangladesh
At the Empowering Bangladesh Conference, Syeda Rizwana Hasan—Honourable Adviser to the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change—delivered a powerful address on the urgent need to align governance with environmental justice and intergenerational responsibility. Her presentation, “The Intersection of Governance, Environmental Sustainability, and Youth Empowerment,” challenged leaders to reimagine decision-making through the lens of ecological equity and youth leadership.
Ms. Hasan called for an end to governance systems that prioritize unchecked development over planetary health. Instead, she advocated for policies that empower young people to lead climate resilience efforts, promote sustainable consumption, and reshape societal values in favor of long-term survival.
“No matter how you put it, we are at a crossroads. One generation is trying to understand the wishes of the other,” Ms. Hasan said.
