Climate Conversation

On January 30, 2024, a significant discussion was held at The Senedd, focusing on promoting fairness in climate action within South Asian communities in Wales. Hosted by the Bengal Dragons Foundation, the event gathered 68 attendees, including community members, experts, and policymakers, to engage in meaningful conversations about climate change and its impact on South Asian communities. Esteemed panellists such as Rajsri Srikirshnan (Youth Climate Ambassador for Wales), Niyaz Ali Senior Hydrogeologist), Cllr Caro Wild (Cabinet Member for Climate Change) , Abdul Azim (Head of Muslim Council of Wales), and Jon Townend (Executive Director YnNi Teg) contributed their expertise, enriching the dialogue and providing valuable insights.

Understanding and Engagement:

Participants demonstrated a strong understanding of the issues, actively engaging with the topics and contributing thoughtful questions. The open and inclusive atmosphere encouraged attendees to share their views and opinions comfortably.

 

Key Questions Addressed:

Attendees provided various suggestions on involving South Asian communities fairly in climate action. Recommendations included:

  • Recognising unique perspectives and contributions.

  • Ensuring access to resources, education, and decision-making processes.

  • Increasing awareness and providing tailored support.

  • Including diverse voices in decisions.

  • Engaging religious scholars and organisations to integrate environmental awareness into religious teachings.

 

  • Environmental Stewardship: Emphasising reducing, reusing, and recycling practices aligned with religious values.

    Multilingual Resources: Providing climate-related information in multiple languages.

    Tailored Education Programs: Raising awareness about climate impacts and sustainable practices within South Asian communities.

    Community Energy Initiatives: Investing in renewable energy projects like solar panels.

    Electric Vehicle Transition: Addressing concerns of South Asian taxi drivers about transitioning to electric vehicles.

    Community Gardens: Promoting local food production and green spaces through community gardens.

    This time, we also took the opportunity to adapt and enhance our methods. Learning from our previous experiences, we streamlined logistics, improved communication, and strengthened our partnerships with local distributors. This allowed us to reach even more families and make a significant difference.

    • Enhance support for community-driven sustainability initiatives.

    • Make climate action materials available in multiple languages.

    • Develop capacity-building programs tailored to South Asian communities.

    • Encourage partnerships with community organisations for co-designing climate solutions.

    • Increase investment in green spaces.

    • Accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles by improving charging infrastructure and offering incentives.

    • Promote waste reduction and resource reuse strategies.

    We are deeply grateful for the trust and support you placed in us. Your kindness has brought light and hope to many households during a time of spiritual reflection and renewal. Every donation, every hour volunteered, and every word of encouragement has played a vital role in making these distributions a success.

    • Ongoing community engagement in climate action initiatives.

    • Accessible resources for implementing sustainable practices.

    • Increased involvement of young people in climate action projects.

    We invite you to stay connected with us as we embark on new projects and continue to make a positive impact in our communities. Together, we can achieve even greater things and bring hope to those who need it most.

Reflections

The event highlighted the challenges and opportunities for promoting fairness in climate action within South Asian communities. Recommendations emphasized the need for ongoing dialogue, support for green education, and skill development to promote environmental sustainability. The Bengal Dragons Foundation, with input from participants, prepared this report to inform future strategies and actions. The foundation looks forward to continuing collaborative efforts to address climate challenges in our communities.