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Pakistan’s Green Youth Movement
By Malik Haider Ali
Islamabad, Pakistan

Despite Pakistan’s small contribution to global carbon emissions, the country has been greatly affected by climate catastrophes. As a student of mechanical engineering at the Institute of Space Technology (IST) in Islamabad, Pakistan, my passion to make a difference in the fight against the climate crisis led me to become involved in the Green Youth Movement.

The Green Youth Movement is a youth club formed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan at universities across the country. As the office bearer of the Green Youth Movement Chapter at IST, I was the youngest member to be appointed as General Secretary, and later promoted to International Liaison. I had the honor of organizing a ground-breaking webinar on technical knowledge of climate change, featuring a lecture by Professor Glenn from MIT on carbon emissions.

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our planet today, and it is essential that we take action to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate their effects. This was the focus of a recent webinar organized by the Green Youth Movement IST Chapter, where experts from MIT and Lund University in Sweden shared their insights on the latest research and developments in the field. As the International Liaison of the Green Youth Movement IST Chapter, I had the privilege of hosting the webinar which was attended by engineering students at the Institute of Space Technology in Islamabad. The goal of the webinar was to educate and engage the students on the current state of climate change and the role they can play in addressing it.

The first speaker, Professor Glenn from MIT, discussed the issue of carbon emissions in oceanography and how they are affecting marine life. He highlighted the fact that the ocean absorbs about 25% of the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere, leading to ocean acidification and the decline of marine biodiversity. Professor Glenn also discussed the potential effects of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems and the global food chain, and the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions to protect ocean health.

The second speaker, Mr Tuan from Lund University, focused on sustainable architecture and how it can help to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. He discussed the importance of designing buildings that are energy-efficient, use renewable energy sources, and have green roofs and walls to absorb carbon dioxide and improve air quality. Mr Tuan also highlighted the benefits of sustainable architecture, including reduced energy costs, improved health and well-being, and a reduced carbon footprint.

Upon assuming the role of International Liaison, I noticed a lack of cooperation among the youth of developed and developing countries in tackling climate change. Besides, young people in developing countries often lack technical assistance to address the issue, while the youth of developed countries lack practical experience in combating climate change. In order to address this issue, I initiated the building of a virtual platform where youth from all across the globe could exchange their views and experiences on climate change.

This platform will help to sensitize youth from different countries and cultures to the urgent need to take action on climate change. Additionally, it will provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and solutions, which will ultimately lead to a more effective global approach to tackling the issue.

The audience of engineering students at the Institute of Space Technology found the webinar to be informative and thought-provoking. The lectures highlighted the urgent need to take action to reduce carbon emissions and the importance of sustainable solutions in addressing climate change. It is clear that sustainable architecture is one of the key solutions to combat climate change. My country, Pakistan, has been particularly affected by climate change, with devastating floods causing not only financial losses but also loss of life. Many children have been orphaned due to these floods, and their pain must be heard to make a more effective and feasible global approach in tackling climate change.

The Green Youth Movement IST Chapter is dedicated to not only raising awareness about the urgent need to address climate change but also providing technical solutions to combat it. One of the initiatives under my command as the International Liaison of the organization is to motivate final-year engineering students at IST to focus their projects on climate change solutions. In addition, the chapter has also built a prototype device for monitoring electricity usage across the campus. Students are currently researching and developing innovative projects such as rain harvesting systems and other sustainable solutions. These efforts demonstrate the chapter’s commitment to not only raise awareness but to also actively work on finding solutions to climate change.

The Green Youth Movement IST Chapter is committed to raising awareness and educating young people about the urgent need to take action on climate change and to give a voice to those who have been affected by it. Being an advocate for climate change in developed and developing worlds is quite different. Unfortunately, a significant portion of the global population is not taking climate change seriously. One of the tragedies arising from this situation is that youth in developing countries are not sensitized in a proper manner about climate change. There is a lack of connection between youth in developed and developing countries, but as the world becomes more connected, we should use virtual platforms for global connectivity. Additionally, environmental clubs in universities are often reluctant to collaborate with other university environmental clubs. Being a climate activist does not just mean standing on the street with banners calling for a safe planet, but it is also about being effective. There is a lot that needs to be done in terms of consolidating the power of young voices against climate change. I am currently working on creating platforms that would facilitate global youth connectivity.

I would like to commend UNEP’s efforts in sensitizing youth about climate change. I am currently in talks with UNEP to launch the Tide Turner Plastic Challenge in Pakistan. Educating youth about climate change not only helps new generations to mitigate and adapt to its impacts, but also provides a platform for inter-faith harmony and tolerance as youth from different backgrounds come together.

Being a student in my third semester, I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and I urge other students to support us in this noble cause. By working together, we can create a brighter, more sustainable future for all.

(Malik Haider Ali, is a climate activist pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad. There he is involved with the Green Youth Movement Club.)