The Brooks World Poverty Institute is holding a conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh about adapting cities to climate change. But it's not what they're talking about that's revolutionary, it's who's doing the talking.

Studies, papers, and articles are released everyday discussing the effect of climate change on the world's poorest. Journalists, politicians, academics, bloggers, everyone seems to have an opinion on how, why, and what to do. The only people whose voices aren't being heard seem to be the people most affected.

Well the academics are stepping down from their ivory towers to the streets of Bangladesh. Climate change seems like an appropriate topic for the capital of a country where predictions of rising sea levels put 55 percent of the Bangladesh population at risk. Medical News Today reports Professor David Hulme, Associate Director of BWPI as saying:

"Our engagement with poor people from the outset means that their knowledge and their preferences will help shape the projects designed to improve their lives. In the past, poverty researchers have been guilty of exploring solutions that they believe will work for the poor, rather than listening to what poor people really want."

One project to be discussed at the conference, which is co-sponsored by a Bangladeshi NGO, is a barge for traders in Dhaka's market to use during flood season.

This is the first of an annual conference on poverty that will be hosted by various developing countries. Although discussing city plans with citizens seems like a no brainer, the conference is being hailed as "groundbreaking" for discussing poverty and climate change with the poor. Let's hope the experts won't be afraid to get their feet wet and their hands dirty, and the academics and "the people" continue their conversation.

A group of gypsies on a street corner in Dhaka. Photo: A@Dhaka (flickr)