DU-and-Stockholm-University-to-hold-a-high-level-Policy--Dialogue-on-Black-Carbon-on-November-1

Published: 29 Oct, 2026

DU and Stockholm University to hold a high-level Policy Dialogue on Black Carbon on November 1

The University of Dhaka (DU) and Stockholm University of Sweden, in cooperation with the Clean Air Fund, will jointly organize a high-level Science-Policy Dialogue on Black Carbon and other Short Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP) on 1 November 2026 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.

State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam will address the inaugural session as the chief guest while Advisor to the Prime Minister, and spokesperson of the PM Office Dr. Mahdi Amin, Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs) at the Prime Minister's Office Prof. Dr. S M Abdul Awal and Ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh Nicolas Weeks will address it as special guests. DU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Prof. Dr. Abdus Salam will deliver welcome address and a short overview of objectives and program of the event.

The meeting will bring together leading scientists, policymakers, government representatives, international organizations, civil society, business leaders and other stakeholders to discuss how science-guided action on SLCPs can simultaneously advance climate objectives, improve air quality and protect public health across South Asia.

The dialogue builds on a long history of Bangladesh–Sweden collaboration in atmospheric science, climate and air-pollution policy. It will also celebrate important milestones in this cooperation, including the Bangladesh Climate Observatory Bhola (BCOB), jointly operated by the University of Dhaka and Stockholm University since 2013, and the influential Bangladesh–Sweden policy dialogue in Dhaka in 2011 that contributed to the emergence of international cooperation on SLCPs through the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).

It may be mentioned that, South Asia faces the combined challenges of air pollution and accelerating climate change, with profound consequences for human health, food and water security, sea-level rise, extreme weather, livelihoods and economic development. The dialogue will therefore focus on how regionally-generated and policy-relevant science can help identify effective priorities for SLCP mitigation, atmospheric measurements/verification, risk assessment and climate and air-quality action.