Climate change education initiative launched

KARACHI: Teachers’ Resource Centre (TRC) has developed and begun the implementation of a climate change education initiative called Climate Change Awareness and Action for Nature, Diversity, Livelihoods, and Ecosystems (CANDLE) with support from the US Consulate.

Under the youth mobilisation component, the seventh cluster conference titled “The Urgency for Climate Change Education – Engaging Youth Leaders for Indigenous and Sustainable Climate Action” was conducted on Wednesday in collaboration with NED University, Karachi.

Founder and CEO of GarbageCAN, Ahmad Shabbar, was the keynote speaker. The panelists included esteemed speakers such as former research scientist and Director General of the National Institute of Oceanography Pakistan, Dr. Samina Kidwai; Professor Rumana Husain from East China Normal University, Shanghai; artist, activist, and educationist Razina Bilgrami; CEO of MyWater and MyHCM, Shahrukh Nadeem; and Director of the Climate Action Centre, Yasir Husain. Representatives from the US Consulate also attended the conference.

During the panel discussion, Dr. Kidwai said, “We have lost weather patterns; we have been witnessing very hot summers and mild winters. Pakistan is at the forefront of countries that will be most affected by climate change. Scientists and engineers should collaborate for this cause.”

Rumana claimed that we need to plant indigenous trees like Neem, Peepal, and Burgat rather than imported plants, as they would turn the city green without damaging groundwater. “We have seen a severe decrease in parrots, sparrows, and flamingoes,” she added. “Whatever we teach is irrelevant. It is due to this realisation that I wrote several books, most of them for children. I conveyed the targeted lesson by writing stories.” She also showed the handkerchief she was carrying in her cloth-tote bag to avoid using tissues.

Bilgrami emphasised that awareness is crucial; otherwise, we won’t know what to work on. “Youth need to read more about climate change,” she said.

Nadeem suggested that students read Bill Gates’s book How to Avoid a Climate Disaster. He stated that this book provides comprehensive solutions for combating climate change.

Husain mentioned that global warming is a result of coal burning, carbon dioxide, and methane emissions. “Heat is increasing continuously. We are not prepared; if this continues, we will have to move to camps,” he warned. He urged students to read constitutional and environmental laws to understand their rights and powers. “We are participants in making law policies. Know your councilors and MNAs.” He also invited students to his climate march scheduled for October.

The plenary session was followed by social action workshops where students worked on developing social action projects for mitigation and adaptation in their local contexts. These projects will be featured as a repository of Pakistan’s homegrown initiatives on local climate issues and will be showcased at regional, national, and international platforms.