Every Fourth of July, the United States celebrates the Declaration of Independence, one of history's most influential political documents. Its assertion that all people possess inherent rights and that governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed reshaped the modern world. Few national declarations have inspired so many struggles for freedom across continents. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, however, Independence Day is more than a celebra

The World Cup 2026 is not only a stage of powerful nations; sometimes, it is the language of dignity of the smaller countries. Right now, Cape Verde is crafting such a language, a small African island nation comprising ten islands of the Atlantic Ocean, located about 600 kilometers away from the coast of Senegal, having a population less than half a million and the courage to challenge the giants of world football. Being able to hold the European champion Spain to a goalless

It is typical of the classical textbook on IR to pose a clear dichotomy to small states existing under the dominance of a larger power, which are either to 'Balance' or 'Bandwagon'. The relation between Bangladesh and India for decades was seen in such a way. At one point, there was an attempt to balance, which meant coldness and ideological conflict, while at another time, it involved bandwagoning based on political confidence and historic bonding. Yet, the political transf

Definition of Eco-democracy: Eco-democracy, often called ecological democracy, is a form of democracy that tries to make environmental protection, ecological sustainability, and public participation central to political decision-making. Overall, eco-democracy is a democratic governance approach in which citizens, communities, and institutions participate in decisions (existing destructive development model that tends to degrade) affecting the environment, with the aim of prot

If human desires could be fulfilled without restraint, the Earth and its inhabitants would have long since perished, this is a scientific reality. According to science, not all human desires are realizable because the Earth has a finite carrying capacity. The structure of human civilization clearly demonstrates that climate, biodiversity, land use, everything, has a safe operating limit. The concept of planetary boundaries identifies nine critical thresholds, including climat

In the emerging era of artificial intelligence, humanity is at a critical juncture. Machines are no longer merely instruments of automation; they are fast becoming intelligent machines that surpass human capabilities in reasoning, prediction, and even artistic endeavors. However, in the midst of this accelerating technology, there is a critical question that is being asked too seldom: Can there be intelligence without wisdom, and what are the implications of such a phenomenon

The military strikes on Iran by the U.S. and Israel have immediately upended global energy markets. Given the timing, occurring over the weekend, the full market reaction will manifest when Asian trading opens on Sunday, March 1, 2026. As a result, Iran has already shut down Strait of Hormuz movements. 1. Impact on Oil and Gas Prices: The primary driver of price volatility is the Strait of Hormuz, which handles approximately 20% of global petroleum and LNG. Crude Oil (Brent):

Microcredit is one of Bangladesh’s most widely recognized development innovations. It expanded access to finance for millions of people, particularly women, who were excluded from the formal banking system. For decades, it played a meaningful role in poverty reduction. But Bangladesh today is not the Bangladesh of the 1980s or 1990s. The economy now faces a very different set of risks: persistent inflation, income volatility, repeated climate shocks, and mounting pressure on

COP30 in Belém is not just another annual climate meeting; it is the 32-year report card of the world governance architecture that was conceived at the Rio Earth Summit of 1992. And that is what report card says: delivery has been sporadic, cosmetic and perilously disconnected with the physics of climatic breakdown. The Amazon, which was once regarded in Rio as an ecological miracle of the world, is now on the verge of an irreversible precipice. Even the communities that stru

ভূমিকা: বাংলাদেশ সরকারের ২০৩০ সালের মধ্যে মোট বিদ্যুতের ২০ শতাংশ নবায়নযোগ্য উৎস থেকে উৎপাদনের লক্ষ্যমাত্রা অর্জনে ‘জাতীয় রুফটপ সোলার কর্মসূচি’ একটি যুগান্তকারী পদক্ষেপ। এই কর্মসূচির ‘উদ্যোগ ক’ বা সরকারি দপ্তর ক্যাটাগরির আওতায় বিদ্যুৎ বিভাগের সুপারিশে মন্ত্রিপরিষদ বিভাগের অধীন ৭০টি বিভাগীয় কমিশনার ও জেলা প্রশাসকের কার্যালয়ে রুফটপ সোলার স্থাপনের একটি বিশেষ পরিকল্পনা গ্রহণ করা হয়েছে। ২২ কোটি টাকা বাজেটের এই প্রকল্পটি মূলত সরকারি প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোতে সৌরবিদ্যুতের ব্যবহার বাড়িয়ে প

Author: M. Zakir Hossain Khan Originally published in: Change Initiative This article is republished for archival and informational purposes. All rights remain with the original publisher.

At the heart of these debates is M Zakir Hossain Khan, a prominent climate-finance expert whose newly published Climate Debt Risk Index reveals how climate-vulnerable nations are being pushed deeper into debt through loan-heavy climate funding. His organisation will host a press conference on the findings on Climate Debt Risk on 15 November, followed by a high-level dialogue on Natural Rights-Led Governance (NRLG) on 17 November. Khan is an Independent Observer of the Climate

In a world that is rapidly changing, where the challenges we face seem insurmountable, there is one simple truth: the failure to act is, in itself, an act of failure. This is not just a failure of leadership or policy it is a failure of humanity’s collective responsibility to create a better world for ourselves and future generations. The most profound failures in history often stem not from misguided action, but from inaction. The refusal to acknowledge pressing issues, the