As citizens of one of the most climate vulnerable nations in the world, what Bangladeshis have to say about the current state of affairs in the fight against climate change matters.

To that end, the recent news of young Bangladeshi voices demanding developing nations finally implement long-delayed measures to not only lower their global carbon footprint but also make good on compensations for affected nations such as Bangladesh comes as a much-needed sign of hope for the future.

As expressed by the UN Special Rapporteur Ian Fry, developing nations like Bangladesh should not have to bear the burden of climate change. The onus lies solely on the polluting developed nations.

However, as Bangladesh’s development trajectory ramps up it is natural that our carbon footprint would grow in scope as well. Which is why, to offset such negative growth, it is imperative that Bangladesh start investing more seriously into renewable energy sources.

The good news is that the science concerning renewable energy is getting better every day, while technology is giving us sustainable solutions. Solar, of course, is the obvious choice when it comes to sustainability, but it is not the only one. Other avenues of generating renewable energy such as technology that harnesses the kinetic energy of rainfall, a breakthrough made by scientists in Hong Kong two years ago, could be particularly beneficial to Bangladesh — which observes record-breaking rainfall seemingly year after year.

There is no doubt that, as the world starts hitting the bottom of the well with regards to fossil fuels, we will need to increasingly rely on renewable energy to power the future. The future, as we all know, won’t wait — and neither should we.