From the 10-11 October, 2023, a conference on Mainstreaming land rights in the narrative of climate change - views from the ground took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The hybrid conference (in-person and virtual) showcased how different countries in the Asia and Africa regions are addressing land issues in the frame of climate action and, thus, sought to create a greater understanding of the importance of land tenure rights in the climate change discourse and agenda. The event was organized by the Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC) and the Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) in partnership with the Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation (GFAR), the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) and the Land Portal Foundation in the context of the Collective Action on Land Tenure and Climate Change.
The event also produced the Dhaka Declaration, which submitted recommendations to operationalize a human rights-based approach to climate justice that affirms the link between climate action and the land tenure security of the rural poor. This included ensuring that land governance, land reform, and equitable access to land, water, and natural resources are the building blocks for climate resilience and ensuring the full involvement of all stakeholders, particularly those most vulnerable to climate change.
If your organization is interested to subscribe to the Dhaka Declaration, please contact Nathaniel Don Marquez (ANGOC).
This document includes recommendations to different stakeholder groups (from governments to UN organizations) to operationalize a human rights-based approach to climate justice that affirms the link between climate action and land tenure security of the rural poor.
In the leadup to upcoming international climate talks, farmers in the coastal regions of Bangladesh are emphasizing the importance of robust and well-documented land rights in the face of the multiple climate change disasters that have adversely impacted their lives and livelihoods. Spearheaded by the Association for Land Reform (ALRD) in Bangladesh, and the Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC), with the support of the Land Portal Foundation and the Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation (GFAR), a social media and information campaign has been underway to amplify their voices on the issue. This time around, we have taken collective action to ensure that climate policy discourse will not neglect the crucial role land rights play in building climate resilience of one of the most vulnerable populations. You can learn more, and contribute, by using hashtags #IfOnlyTheEarthCouldSpeak #landmatters #land4climate #COP28 and by following us on Twitter.