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An international training workshop aimed at enhancing the application and capacity of earth remote sensing technologies for climate adaptation and disaster management in South Asia began in Dhaka on Saturday.

The two-day event titled Enhancing Climate Adaptation and Resilience Through Earth Observation in the South Asian Region is under way at BRAC University.

The workshop is being jointly organised by the Department of Geography and Environment at Jagannath University, the Center for Climate Society and Environment, BRAC University’s Center for Climate Change and Environmental Research, and the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The initiative is supported by the Asia-Oceania Group on Earth Observations, the China Science and Technology Exchange Center, and AOGEO’s Regional Capacity Development Centre.

Eminent geographers, climate scientists, academics, and researchers from Bangladesh, China, the UK, and Nepal have been invited to discuss the growing importance of earth observation in understanding climate risks, managing disasters, and promoting sustainable use of agriculture, forestry, and water resources.

BRAC University professor emeritus Ainun Nishat chaired the opening session while Jagannath University vice-chancellor professor Md Rezaul Karim was present as chief guest.

National University pro-vice-chancellor professor Md Nurul Islam, Oxfam Bangladesh Country Director Gareth Price-Jones, and Chairman of Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization Abdul Mohsin were present at the event as special guests.

Experts emphasised that remote sensing and geospatial information technologies played a critical role in strengthening climate resilience.

They said that data-driven policy decisions based on earth observation were essential for forecasting disasters and mitigating climate impacts in the region.

‘Universities are no longer just centres for education and research, but rather they are becoming platforms for climate adaptation,’ Professor Md Nurul Islam said, adding that this initiative will significantly enhance the capacity of higher education institutions in Bangladesh.

Professor Jianjun Wu of Beijing Normal University said, ‘Collaborative research and technology transfer are key to strengthening disaster management and environmental monitoring across South Asia.’

Ashish Damle, Country Director of Oxfam in Bangladesh, said, ‘To ensure climate justice, we must align our technological capacity with strong, inclusive policies.’

Chairman of the Department of Geography and Environment at Jagannath University, professor Mohammad Abdul Quader, said, ‘This workshop aims to equip young researchers with practical knowledge in earth observation and GIS technologies.’

Speaking as chief guest at the opening session, JnU vice-chancellor professor Md Rezaul Karim said, ‘Climate change poses one of the biggest challenges to sustainable development in South Asia.’

Earth observation-based research and technology can play an effective role in addressing climate change, he added.