NEWS DESK
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is among the countries hardest hit by climate change, with extreme weather events like floods, droughts, and heatwaves devastating vulnerable rural communities. The 2022 floods were a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate resilience and disaster preparedness.
While climate change affects everyone, the most vulnerable — particularly women, children, and the elderly — bear the brunt. With 67% of Pakistan’s population under 30, young people have a crucial role to play. However, their voices are often missing from climate policy discussions.
To change that, initiatives like Islamic Relief Pakistan’s VOCAL (Voices Organized for Climate Change Advocacy and Lobbying) are empowering young people, especially girls from disadvantaged areas, to take action. By forming climate clubs, offering resilience training, and promoting sustainable solutions, VOCAL equips youth to tackle climate challenges locally and globally.
These youth-led groups are already making a difference with projects like tree-planting drives, waste management, and climate education in schools. Campaigns such as Adopt a Tree, run in collaboration with Pakistan’s Forest & Wildlife Department, encourage urban forestry and environmental care, with slogans like Plant a Tree, Secure a Future.
Young activists like Syed are determined to lead the charge. “We are the generation that will feel the full weight of climate change, but we are also the generation that can turn the tide,” he says.
As global leaders gather at COP29, the efforts of Pakistan’s youth offer hope for a more sustainable future, proving that they are ready to take charge in the fight against climate change.
As global leaders gather at COP29, the efforts of Pakistan’s youth offer hope for a more sustainable future, proving that they are ready to take charge in the fight against climate change. Their energy and determination show that real change begins at the grassroots level.
By fostering local solutions and amplifying young voices, initiatives like VOCAL are paving the way for long-term climate resilience. The message is clear: the youth of Pakistan are not just the leaders of tomorrow — they are the changemakers of today.