‘Youth be engaged to fight climate change’

Haq calls for mobilising resources through corporate, development sectors

ISLAMABAD:

Covid-19 and climate change are harsh realities of the day where all stakeholders, especially the youth, need to be engaged. Civil society organisations, the corporate sector and think tanks should play their role in helping government initiatives and should lead the nation from the front in emergencies.

Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Chairman Abrarul Haq made these remarks in a meeting with Devcom-Pakistan (Development Communications Network) Executive Director Munir Ahmed. The latter called on the PRCS chairman to explore the possibility of collaboration on climate literacy and justice.

Haq said engaging well-aware youth about climate impact on their local conditions would help improve community-based disaster management.

"We need to mobilise our indigenous resources through corporate and development sectors, individual philanthropic contribution and in-kind community participation and partnerships," he stressed.

"The PRCS has a comprehensive youth programme that could help in boosting climate literacy among the communities."

Devcom-Pakistan Executive Director Munir Ahmed said Earth Day is commemorated every year on April 22 to highlight climate impact on the communities worldwide, and environmental issues such as loss of biodiversity, environmental degradation increasing pollution among others. "Several one-time activities are organised as a symbolic gesture to engage all walks of life in planting trees, picking up roadside trash, conducting various programs to motivate people to adopt ways for sustainable living. But we need to have consistent action plans for the regular engagement of all citizens."

Ahmed said this is the second consecutive year that we have no on-ground action activities but mostly online events marked Earth Day because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"With every passing day, the challenge of sustainable development and climate change is getting more focus of the governments, expert practitioners and communities.

They are well-aware of the need to have a common action agenda based on the research and knowledge to safeguard the lives and livelihood."

Being a think tank and a development organisation, he said the Devcom-Pakistan can help the PRCS to engage youth and other stakeholders across the country on a variety of initiatives.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2021.