Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday (April 22) outlined a six-point roadmap to achieve a sustainable and equitable global future.

He also urged world leaders to embrace collective action and innovative approaches to tackle pressing global challenges.

Delivering the keynote address at the Earthna Summit in Doha, the Grameen Bank founder and Chief Adviser to the Earthna Center said financial inclusion, youth empowerment, and social business must be central pillars of a new global order.

“We must expand access to financial services for all, particularly marginalised communities,” Yunus said, adding that financial tools are essential to help individuals build livelihoods and engage fully in the economy.

As his second point, he called for championing social businesses—enterprises that prioritise solving social and environmental problems over generating profits. “Social business offers a new way of doing business—with zero personal profit and a focus on impact,” he noted.

Highlighting the power of young people, Yunus urged governments and institutions to invest in youth leadership and skill development. “They are agents of change. Their voices and energy are crucial,” he said.

Yunus also stressed the need for global peace and justice, calling them foundational to sustainable development.

In his fifth proposal, he reminded wealthy nations of their obligation to meet Official Development Assistance (ODA) targets, particularly for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). “Enhanced concessional financing, including disaster clauses, is essential,” he said.

His final point called for a shift in global lifestyle—a counter-culture focused on zero waste, zero carbon, and zero personal profit.

Reflecting on Bangladesh’s own journey, Yunus said, “We stand at a turning point—to forge a new social contract rooted in dignity, justice, and inclusion.”

He concluded with a call to action: “Let us build a world where no one is too poor to dream, and no dream is too big to achieve.”

BDST: 1453 HRS, APR 22, 2025
MN