Pakistani youth enriched with creative ideas, innovation to brighten future amid climate crisis: Patricia Scotland
ISLAMABAD, August 01 (SABAH): The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP), the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and Generation unlimited, UNICEF Pakistan organised a high level symposium titled “Driving the Change: The Dynamic Role of Pakistan’s Youth and Civil Society in Climate Resilience” here at the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Studies (PIPS).
The symposium hosted Secretary General, Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland as special guest, Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam as guest of honour and Chairman, PMYP, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan as keynote speaker, whereas Canadian High Commissioner, Ambassador, Leslie Scanlon, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Samuel Rizk, and Ms. Cynthia Kushner, Chief WASH and Climate Change, UNICEF.
Secretary General Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland in her address as special guest said the courage and equity of the youth would drive the future of the world amid climate crisis. She said it’s the first generation to face the worst impacts of climate change and the last to take action against whopping impacts of climate change.
Patricia Scotland added that around 33 million people got adversely affected by 2022 floods in Pakistan which is half the population of the United Kingdom (UK). The Commonwealth Secretary General underlined that it was unfair to put all burden on the already stressed nations facing unprecedented magnitude of climate catastrophes. She mentioned that the passion, energy, equity and knowledge at the symposium gives great hope. Commenting on her visit to National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), she said that she had witnessed innovation, creativity and solutions that gave her joy, help and hope to fight climate crisis with the possibility of a bright future. “This youth bulge is the richest gold reserve in this part of the country. The Commonwealth nations represent one-third of the world whereas that demographic diversity give us a chance to grapple with the problems of tomorrow. AI will add $15.7 trillion to the global economy, and we should ensure our youth take benefit of it,” she mentioned.
The Commonwealth had developed a consortium with the Silicon Valley to develop an AI Academy to train the youth as mankind amid AI revolution have the chance to be master or mastered by it.
Earlier, in his welcome remarks, Executive Director, SDPI, Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri briefed the distinguished guests that the Institute is the oldest and premier independent think-tank of Pakistan that represents itself as a shadow government due to its collaborative role as part of the solution and guiding the government for its course correction in the strategic and policy realms of economy, climate change, food security, international relations and others.
Dr. Suleri underlined that major challenge of how policies like Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will affect the future of nations like Pakistan as its exporters like other nations would be forces to share carbon emissions at every step of their export products. He also highlighted that it would affect countries like Pakistan having sovereign territories like EU as its export partners.
Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suler mentioned that Artificial Intelligence (AI) and climate change will affect the job market of the future as many present-day knowledge and disciplines will become irrelevant. However, the Commonwealth secretariat can intervene as its 56 nations that are its member to workout collaborative efforts, he added.
Chairman, PMYP, Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan in his keynote address commended the Commonwealth Secretary General, Patricia Scotland for forging alliances among the member nations. “Youth empowerment is the way forward and the Prime Minister Youth Programme is running Green Youth Movement under which green clubs have been established in 137 varsities out of the total 268 universities which will be further rolled out at all educational levels,” he said.
Under the PMYP, he said the programme is educating youth and driving advocacy drive through them at the community level. “Youth of Pakistan has to take a stand to keep house in order. The government is going to launch the National Volunteer Corps whose logo will be launched today by the Commonwealth Secretary General,” he added. He further mentioned that 200,000 youngsters would be trained under the Corps for disaster management activities due to rising natural calamities intensity and frequency throughout the country.
High Commissioner Canadian High Commission, Leslie Scanlon said youth perspectives needs to be centered while considering climate action as they are the most impacted due to climate change impacts. She congratulated Dr. Suleri on being designated as member of International Advisory Committee of COP29 Azerbaijan. She added that the youth need to be supported, whereas their climate education is crucial in this regard. “Population council report highlights lack of knowledge among disaster-hit population about causes of climate change. However, the PMYP and other climate initiatives are appreciable,” she said.
Resident Representative, UNDP, Samuel Rizk said its important to recognise youth role and concerns in efforts combating climate change. He said the youth interested in human security and sustainable development is important as climate change is going to be a formidable challenge in the future.
Chief of WASH, UNICEF, Cindy Kushner said Pakistan is the fifth most vulnerable country due to climate change with children and women the most impacted that need to be need to be empowered as survivors and change makers.
At the conclusion, PM’s aide, Romina Khurshid Alam, Secretary General Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, Executive Director, SDPI, Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri and others launched the COP in My City initiative by UNICEF Pakistan.