North South University • DhakaCenter for Climate Change & Disaster ResilienceA dedicated center at North South University where students and researchers take up climate-related studies, build the capacity to address climate issues, and carry that work into development policy and practice.
About 20% of the world’s population, mostly in the Global North, controls 80% of its resources. Bangladesh, home to over 160 million people, has contributed minimally to global emissions yet is already experiencing severe climate impacts: by 2050, a 1.5°C rise in temperature threatens the lives and livelihoods of 15 million coastal residents. The Center’s response is to identify knowledge and research gaps, generate evidence-based studies and cultivate emerging advocates for climate justice.
Professor, Department of Environmental Science and Management, North South University
“By equipping youth and researchers with tools and techniques, this initiative seeks to create a new generation of climate research and advocacy that directly contributes to Bangladesh’s 8th Five-Year Plan, the Sustainable Development Goals, and Vision 2041.”
The goal is to build the capacity and awareness of the youth community and researchers in Bangladesh to address climate-related issues, and translate these efforts into actionable solutions through a dedicated Center for Climate Change and Disaster Resilience. Its objectives carry that into practice through 18 activities, run in short- and long-term phases.
Raise the visibility of climate justice in Bangladesh and give students a route into climate research.
Activities
Turn that knowledge into action alongside the people already living with the consequences.
Activities
Treat climate justice as a question of ecosystems and species, not only of people.
Activities
Close the gap between the communities seeking justice and the policies meant to reach them.
Activities
A selection from the Center’s 23 projects, from coastal adaptation and watershed biodiversity to wastewater surveillance and AI-assisted surge forecasting.
Its papers examine climate change and embankment failures in the southern region, the impact of data poverty on early warning, participatory GIS for flood risk in the coastal region, and a dual-tier framework for assessing ultra-poverty.
Its published papers forecast rice production against environmental factors in the coastal region, assess climate-induced agricultural vulnerability with machine learning, and develop a livelihood vulnerability index for coastal fishermen.
Its output is “Watershed Management and Biodiversity of Pablakhali”. The concept note also lists a film on biodiversity conservation and watershed management in Pablakhali.
Its papers cover developing the atlas for a sustainable drinking water supply, and the challenges, consequences and sustainable solutions of changing water sources and extraction methods in Bangladesh.
Its papers identify SARS-CoV-2 strains through wastewater monitoring and clinical diagnosis, follow wastewater from COVID-19 patients’ residences for 30 days, and assess wastewater surveillance for estimating disease burden where sanitation is onsite.
The first phase is complete. The second phase is ongoing with the same funders; the booklet lists no budget for it yet.
A submitted proposal, now under review. A second smart-shelter proposal, to the Lloyd’s of London Foundation, focuses on south-western coastal Bangladesh.
A submitted proposal — one of 7 across the portfolio that are now under review.
Showing 9 of 23 projects
All 23 Projects in Research & ProjectsFor a deeper understanding of the projects and their activities, the concept note points to the films below — shown here with photographs from its own project figures.
7:12 • YouTubePablakhali Protected Area, Rangamati, is the site of the Center’s completed biodiversity and co-management project with the World Bank and the Department of Forest. Listed among the concept note’s multimedia resources.
9:11 • YouTubeA reportage published by Action contre la Faim, one of the Center’s international collaborators. Listed among the concept note’s multimedia resources.
Villagers dig and carry mud to close a breach in an earthen embankment beside a river.
A worker climbs an orange pole fitted with a small solar panel, with boats moored alongside.
A speaker addresses villagers seated at school desks in a classroom.
Core members are organised as Local Experts and International Experts — strong local context alongside global perspectives and best practice.
Professor, Department of Environmental Science and Management
Professor & Dean, SHLS
Professor, Department of Geology
Professor, Geography & Environment
Associate Professor & Chairperson
Associate Professor & Proctor
Assistant Professor
Senior Lecturer
Senior Lecturer
Senior Lecturer
Associate Professor
Professor
Water pollution · Geogenic contaminants — arsenic and fluoride
Professor
Water · Flooding under climate change · Rainwater harvesting · Sustainability
Professor
Climate adaptation and community resilience · Disaster risk management · Gender and social equity
Senior Research Fellow
Director, Monitoring
Sustainable development assessment · Capacity development · Innovation systems
Core member — profile to follow
The concept note lists 42 key collaborators — 13 national and 29 international — spanning government agencies, research institutes, development organisations and universities.
The Center is led by the Director, who reports to the Vice Chancellor of North South University. A team of multidisciplinary experts manages it, each taking a specialised role as a Coordinator. It is designed to operate independently as required, allowing flexibility and responsiveness to emerging issues in climate, migration and disaster resilience.
Advises the Director, alongside the Steering Committee.
Director, CDR • Member Secretary
Senior leadership and academic representatives from North South University.
Each takes a specialised role; Principal Investigators hire project staff in consultation with the Chief Coordinator.
How the Center operates, who takes part in its research and what it expects to achieve — answered from the concept note.
A Steering Committee of senior leadership and academic representatives from North South University provides guidance and knowledge support, reflecting the Center’s multidisciplinary nature. A regular Research Associate and Program Officer provide administrative support. Short-term Research Associates, Research Assistants and Program Officers are recruited based on need, available funds and ongoing research projects. Individual Principal Investigators can hire research staff for their projects, in consultation with the Chief Coordinator of the Center.
Students and academics. Need-based research opportunities for both are one of the activities under the first objective, and the Center invites academics from various backgrounds to contribute to its work. Young people are also reached through a youth advisory team on climate justice and youth climate justice teams in schools.
The concept note sets out these expected results:
Through the fourth objective, which aims to identify the most vulnerable climate groups seeking climate justice and integrate them with existing development policy and planning — by assessing municipal, union and upazila climate action plans, identifying policy gaps in feedback sessions with residents, and integrating a rights-based approach into climate change policy. The concept note ties the Center’s work to Bangladesh’s 8th Five-Year Plan, the Sustainable Development Goals and Vision 2041.