Independent University, Bangladesh concluded its two-day conference on ‘environment and changing climate 2025’ at the IUB in Dhaka on Friday.

In collaboration with the Co-creating Knowledge for Local Adaptation to Climate Change in Least Developed Countries project, the conference featured discussions and interdisciplinary knowledge-sharing on inclusive climate action, said a press release.

The conference brought together national and international researchers, development practitioners and community leaders under the theme Global Strategies and Local Actions, highlighting the event’s commitment to a community led and context-specific future for climate change adaptation.

Day one of the conference opened with keynote speeches and presentations from industry experts, including A Atiq Rahman, Shahpar Selim and Faisal Kabir, focusing on the advancement of evidence-driven research in capacity-building.

Professor M Tamim, vice-chancellor, IUB; Professor Daniel W Lund, pro-VC, IUB; and K Ayaz Rabbani, dean, school of environment and life sciences, also spoke at the event.

The day concluded with an alumni roundtable, where graduates from IUB’S department of environmental science and management discussed the realities and prospects of the climate change and development sector, especially against the backdrop of global funding cuts.

Day two of the event served as the academic focal point of the conference, hosting a diverse roster of oral and poster presentations where researchers presented their work across areas of climate governance, indigenous knowledge, sustainable agriculture, energy transitions, and many more. Complementing the academic sessions, a range of workshops and thematic side events further explored meaningful discussion and pathways for locally-led adaptation.

Highlighting the human dimensions of climate adaptation, NGO leaders from the salit and Munda communities of Khulna and Satkhira shared their perspectives, challenges and history with nature-based solutions, while a session by CIMMYT, Shushilan, and the International Centre for Climate Change and Development discussed the tools for locally-led adaptation.