Oxfam in Bangladesh and the Curtin University of Australia jointly launched the Urban Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction Hub today in the city with an aim to foster urban resilience with climate action and disaster response following research, innovation, collaboration and advocacy. Report BSS
Rezaul Maksud Jahedi, Secretary of the Local Government Division, Md Shahjahan Mia, Administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation, Mohammad Azaz, Administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation, Ashish Damle, Country Director of Oxfam in Bangladesh, Professor Martin Van Kranendonk, Head of the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Curtin University, Nayoka Martinez-B„ckstr”m, First Secretary and Deputy Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka, among others, were present at the launching event.
With over 58 percent of the world's population now living in urban areas - a number expected to hit 70 percent by 2050 - cities are both victims and vectors of the climate crisis. They consume 75 percent of global energy, produce over 70 percent of carbon emissions, and are increasingly vulnerable to heatwaves, air pollution, sea-level rise, and floods with an exacerbating agent of inequalities.
The year 2024 was the hottest year on record, and urban poor and marginal communities like Dhaka's urban poor-many of whom live in informal settlements-face climate risks up to 10 times greater than their wealthier counterparts.
Speaking on the occasion, Rezaul Maksud Jahedi said urban climate resilience is no longer optional; it is essential. Collaborative approach will strengthen disaster preparedness, inform better policies, and ensure that cities are equipped to safeguard every citizen-especially the most vulnerable, he added.
Addressing the gathering, Md Shahjahan Mia underscored the urgency of collaborative action.
Mohammad Azaz said: "In urban governance, the best solutions often come from the ground up. We need adaptive strategies, coordinated leadership, and community-driven designs to meet today's urban challenges."
Ashish Damle said: "Cities like Dhaka are under siege from overlapping crises-soaring heat, air pollution, unplanned growth, and frequent climate-induced disasters. These challenges are pushing the most vulnerable communities deeper into risk."
He said the Hub launched seeks to address urban climate and disaster challenges through cutting-edge research, inclusive policy advocacy, capacity-building, and community-led innovation. At present it focuses on six core themes: urban heat and pollution, energy transitions, green infrastructure, geospatial science, climate justice, and emergency response systems, he added.
Professor Martin Van Kranendonk said, "Urbanization is reshaping our planet-and with it, reshaping our vulnerabilities. Urban areas face the brunt of climate change but also house the tools for transformation. The Hub bridges science and community to create locally grounded, globally scalable solutions."
Dr. Mohammad Emran Hasan, Head of Climate Justice & Natural Resource Rights at Oxfam in Bangladesh and Dr. Ashraf Dewan, Professor at Curtin University gave a detailed presentation on the context, vision, and roadmap of the Hub.
The second half of the event featured two research presentations followed by a panel discussion.
Dr. Fei Yang from the Chinese Academy of Sciences presented critical findings on urban heat stress in informal settlements, while Dr. Mo Hoque from the University of Portsmouth highlighted the role of data and technology.
Experts, including Hasin Jahan (WaterAid Bangladesh), Tomas W”rlund Rylenius (Embassy of Sweden), Dr Md Golam Rabbani (Climate Bridge Fund, BRAC), and Mohammad Barad Hossain Chowdhury (Ministry of Education), among others, addressed the event.
The event drew broad participation from civil society, academia, media, development partners, and municipal authorities.
The Hub sets a precedent not only for Bangladesh but for other countries facing the triple burden of climate change, urbanization and social inequality.
