The Center for Future Studies (CFS) under the Faculty of Security and Strategic Studies (FSSS), Bangladesh University of Professionals, organized a Human Rights Day Lecture titled “Human Rights in an Era of Climate Change: Rethinking Global Justice and Environmental Governance from a Global South Perspective” on 10 December 2025 at the Bijoy Auditorium of Bangladesh University of Professionals. The session was attended by faculty members and students from the Faculty of Security and Strategic Studies.

The keynote speech was delivered by Professor Dr. Shawkat Alam, PhD, Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law (FAAL) and Professor of International and Environmental Law at Macquarie Law School, Australia. Professor Alam is a distinguished Bangladeshi-born legal scholar whose teaching, research, and policy contributions span international law, environmental governance, human rights, trade, and sustainable development, particularly in the context of the Global South.

Professor Alam has produced an extensive body of scholarship, including monographs, edited volumes, book chapters, and peer-reviewed articles, and has held several key administrative and academic leadership roles at Macquarie Law School. These include serving as Dean, Director of the Centre for Environmental Law, Director of Postgraduate Programs, and Director of Higher Degree Research. He has been a pioneer in fostering an inclusive academic culture, developing policies, building capacity, and promoting environmental governance initiatives across Asia and the Pacific.

In his lecture, Professor Alam highlighted that climate change is no longer solely an environmental concern but an urgent crisis of justice, equity, and human rights. He emphasized that the Global South, despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions, bears the most severe and existential impacts of climate change. He critically examined the structural inequities embedded in global climate governance, emphasizing the historical responsibilities of the Global North.

Drawing on his extensive research, Professor Alam assessed the effectiveness of current international legal frameworks and multilateral climate mechanisms in safeguarding fundamental human rights, particularly the rights to life, health, food, water, and shelter in climate-vulnerable states. He discussed Bangladesh’s unique position as a frontline climate-affected nation and explored the challenges it faces in balancing adaptation, development, and the protection of human rights under increasing ecological instability.

The lecture also addressed critical dimensions of climate justice, including loss and damage, climate-induced displacement, and intergenerational equity. Professor Alam urged the strengthening of Global South leadership, international solidarity, and transformative cooperation to build a more equitable and inclusive global environmental order. He concluded by reminding the audience that “we are the agents of change”, calling for collective responsibility and proactive engagement.

Following the keynote presentation, an interactive question-and-answer session was held, allowing participants to engage directly with the speaker on emerging issues and policy challenges.

The lecture was concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Md. Abu Bakar Siddique, Assistant Professor and Acting Chairman of the Department of Law. He thanked Professor Alam for his insightful contribution and appreciated the participants' meaningful and impactful questions on the topic.