Erratic weather alarming sign of climate change: Prof Ainun Nishat

Trends in weather and seasons are currently not what they have been on an average in the past three decades, an alarming sign of climate change, said Professor Ainun Nishat, the Bangladesh government’s climate change negotiator.

Durations of Bangladesh’s six seasons are varying to the extent that some are not being experienced at all, affecting blooms and fish spawning and increasing salinity, insect numbers and the spread of new diseases, he said.

Heavy rains of short durations are erratically falling on small areas while there have been an increase in thunderstorms, typhoons and cyclones, said Professor Nishat, adviser of the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER) of Brac University (BracU).

He was moderating an open discussion on “Youth Action Towards Climate Change” organised by the C3ER at BracU marking Global Climate Week 2019 which ran from September 20 to 27.

The week started with #ClimateStrike let by Greta Thunberg on September 20 in New York. Globally, #YouthForClimate campaign supporting all other movements are already picking up momentum.

The C3ER with around 30 students of BracU participated in the national movement for Global Climate Strike on 20 September 2019 at National Press Club. The students and climate activists expressed their solidarity with the movement.