Schools across Islamabad to teach climate change

Govt plans to replicate programme nation-wide

KARACHI: The truth of the climate emergency announces itself regularly all over the world, making it impossible for both developed and developing nations to deny that the world faces an environmental catastrophe.

To deal with future environmental challenges, Pakistan, today, becomes the second nation, after Italy, to introduce climate change education to its curriculum.

In collaboration with the climate ministry and Wateraid, a non-governmental organization, the Federal Directorate of Education plans to expose students at more than 400 schools across the capital to climate change and other environmental issues.

“We need to bring about change in human behaviour, and we believe that the best place to start is our schools,” said Mohammad Saleem, the spokesperson for the federal climate change department.  "This is part of the Clean Green Pakistan Movement launched by the prime minister last year," Saleem added.

Under the new programme, students at government schools across the federal capital will receive training on issues related to climate change, environment, clean water, good sanitation, and proper hygiene.

“It is essential for our children to learn about the impact of climate change and water scarcity,” said Nadeem Ahmed, manager advocacy at WaterAid Pakistan.   “It is the right of every child to live a healthy life in a clean environment,” Ahmed said.  "We must educate our children about it," he added.

Under the Clean Green School Programme, more than 0.1 million students will receive training on climate issues.  While Pakistan contributes less than 1 per cent of the world's greenhouse gases blamed for causing global warming, its population is among the world's most vulnerable victims of the growing consequences of climate change.

Each year, the country faces rising temperatures, droughts, and flooding that threaten health, agriculture, and water supplies.

According to the 2018 Global Climate Risk Index released by the public policy group Germanwatch, Pakistan is among 10 countries affected most by climate change.

"We plan to carry out different exercises and trainings at both primary and secondary schools in the capital city about climate change," said an official at the climate ministry.

"The government will replicate this across the country in the next phase," he added.

Soon after taking office, Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke extensively about his plans to protect the environment.

He launched the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami project, an initiative aimed at improving environmental awareness.  Since then, the premier has used every opportunity to encourage the nation to plant more trees to reverse the devastating effects of deforestation.

According to officials, this is the first climate-focused programme for students at primary and secondary schools in a developing country.  The project introduces a comprehensive activity-based and child-friendly syllabus on climate and environmental education.