On Tuesday 20 October The Hague’s diplomatic, academic and NGO sectors came together for a pre-COP roundtable jointly hosted by The Hague Humanitarian Studies Centre, International Institute of Social Studies and Embassy of Bangladesh in The Hague.
Bringing sectors together on climate and displacement
The event was convened to discuss questions surrounding climate and displacement, with a particular focus on climate adaptation in countries such as Bangladesh.
The event opened with remarks from ISS Rector Prof. Ruard Ganzevoort, Paul van der Logt, Head of the Climate Team at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Kevin Playford, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Australia in The Hague.
Paul and Kevin highlighted opportunities for joint action on climate adaptation, including sharing knowledge of the technical and cultural aspects of supporting people displaced by climate-related hazards.
In addition to its role as ‘President of Negotiations’ at COP31, Australia has experience working with people displaced by rising sea levels in Tuvalu, including a landmark agreement reached in 2023 that provides a pathway for Tuvaluans to relocate to Australia.
Learning from climate adaptation in Bangladesh
Following the opening remarks, HSC-ISS researcher Hyeonggeun Ji provided an overview of his research into vernacular climate adaptation and humanitarian advocacy undertaken with riverine communities in Bangladesh.
He also highlighted inefficiencies and challenges within the COP process, alongside significant achievements in multilateral climate action emerging from these conferences.
Exploring climate finance, conflict and displacement
The event continued with a roundtable moderated by HSC Director and ISS Professor Thea Hilhorst.
The discussion featured climate reparations researcher Dr Mausumi Chetia (UvA), Joep Verhagen, Head of Programmes at the Global Centre for Climate Adaptation, Dr Rodrigo Mena, Head of Climate and Conflict at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, and displacement and migration researcher Dr Bishawjit Mallick (UU).
The panellists explored climate finance, loss and damage funding, the interconnected risks of climate change and armed conflict, and the factors influencing people's decisions to remain and adapt or to relocate in South Asia.
A call for critical dialogue and collective action
The event concluded with a call to action from HE Faiyaz Murshid Kazi, Ambassador of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to the Netherlands, who emphasized the importance of critical and reflexive discussions on multilateral climate action.
The event was moderated throughout by Jacob Dickinson, Political Officer at the Embassy of Bangladesh.
Around 60 representatives from the diplomatic, academic and NGO and civil society sectors attended, including representatives from the embassies of Georgia, Iran, Korea, the Philippines, Malta, Greece, Tanzania, Peru, the UK, Nepal, Sudan, Panama, Japan, Palestine and Rwanda.
Representatives from IOM in the Netherlands, CARE NL, SNV and VluchtelingNetwerk also attended, alongside staff and students from ISS, EUR, TU Delft and VU Amsterdam.
The Hague Humanitarian Studies Centre and the International Institute of Social Studies would like to thank the Embassy of Bangladesh in the Netherlands for its generous support in making spaces for critical discussions on climate possible.
