Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has cautioned that while sustainability is widely promoted, it often lacks clear definitions and standards — risking greenwashing rather than ensuring true justice and equity.

“This concern is especially critical for Bangladesh as we prepare to graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category. If we are to make this transition meaningful, the standards we adhere to must evolve,” Rizwana said at a session titled *"Bangladesh Just Transition Academy: Decent Work for All in a Green Economy"*, hosted by the International Labour Organization at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center.

Stressing the importance of a just transition across all sectors — not just energy — she called for clear, sector-wide standards in textiles, agriculture, and manufacturing to ensure collective national progress.

Rizwana pointed out that although sustainability efforts have begun, particularly in the private sector under international pressure, the movement remains fragmented and lacks a shared vision. “We have yet to collectively define what we agree to, and more importantly, what we reject,” she said.

Drawing from her own environmental advocacy, she criticised superficial technological fixes, citing the example of zigzag kilns in the brick industry, which were once promoted as green alternatives but still caused pollution and environmental degradation. “Thirty-two countries have already phased out burnt bricks — Bangladesh must commit to a full transition,” she urged.

She also condemned the practice of sidestepping environmental challenges instead of addressing them directly. “From labour exploitation to water overuse, solutions often exist but rarely scale. We need structural change,” she added.

Calling on academia to support national sustainability strategies, she also urged public agencies to embed environmental values in their core mandates. Rizwana highlighted the perception problem around the Department of Environment (DoE), noting that when it rejects projects over environmental risks, it`s often seen as anti-development.

“This mindset must change,” she said, stressing that development and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive.

She criticized token green measures, like building certifications, that ignore deeper issues such as gender sensitivity, labour welfare, or energy efficiency. “It’s not even 10 am and this room is ablaze with artificial light. Had the building been properly designed, this wouldn`t be necessary,” she remarked.

Rizwana emphasized the need to internalise sustainability values, not just comply with standards. “We push to avoid load-shedding while wasting imported energy. This is not just a policy issue — it’s a values issue.”

She concluded by urging collaboration among international organisations, government agencies, civil society, and the private sector to build enduring institutional legacies for a just and sustainable future in Bangladesh.