Youth Development and Climate Change

Pakistan is a nation of the young. Around two-thirds of the population is under the age of 30, making it one of the most youthful countries in the world. This youth bulge presents both a tremendous opportunity and a challenge – especially in the context of climate change. As the climate crisis unfolds, it is the youth of today and tomorrow who will face its intensifying impacts, but they are also the ones with the passion and creativity to drive solutions. This blog explores the dynamic between youth development and climate change in Pakistan: how climate change affects youth, and how youth can be pivotal in addressing climate change.

The Impact of Climate Change on Youth

Climate change affects everyone, but young people often bear a disproportionate brunt in several ways:

• Education Disruptions: Extreme weather events and disasters can directly disrupt education. When schools are flooded or damaged (as seen in 2022 when thousands of schools were affected by floods), students lose valuable class time. In drought-prone rural areas, children (especially girls) might drop out to help families cope – fetching water from farther away or due to economic stress. Heatwaves can also make studying difficult in poorly ventilated, overcrowded classrooms.
• Health and Nutrition: As discussed in the previous blog, climate-related diseases and malnutrition can impede a child’s development. Young children who suffer repeated illnesses or malnutrition due to food insecurity may experience stunting or cognitive development issues, affecting their potential later in life.
• Economic Prospects: Youth entering the workforce find an economy that is increasingly impacted by climate stress. Agriculture, which employs a large number of young Pakistanis in rural areas, is vulnerable to unpredictable rains and temperatures. A bad crop year due to a climate event means less income and fewer job opportunities. Even in urban areas, climate impacts like urban flooding or energy crises (exacerbated by water scarcity for hydropower, for instance) can shrink job markets or business stability. In essence, climate change threatens to deepen youth unemployment or underemployment.
• Migration and Displacement: Climate change can contribute to internal migration. We’ve seen rural families, after repeated crop failures or disaster losses, move to cities in search of work. Many of these migrants are young people. When they arrive in cities like Karachi or Lahore, they often end up in informal settlements with poor living conditions, facing new challenges such as urban flooding or heat stress, and often lacking social support. Displacement can also interrupt education and vocational training, setting youth back.
• Psychosocial Stress: The uncertainty of a future defined by climate change can weigh heavily on young minds. There is a growing phenomenon of eco-anxiety – a chronic fear of environmental doom. Pakistani youth who are aware of global climate science and witness local degradation (like dying forests, polluted rivers, extreme weather) may feel anxiety, frustration, or helplessness. This stress is compounded if they perceive that the older generations or leaders are not taking adequate action, leading to feelings of betrayal or urgency.

Despite these challenges, Pakistani youth are not merely victims of climate change; they are increasingly becoming agents of change.

Youth as Catalysts for Climate Action

The energy and ingenuity of youth can be Pakistan’s greatest asset in tackling climate change. Here’s how young people are stepping up and why empowering them is crucial:

• Youth Activism: In recent years, Pakistan has seen a rise in youth-led climate activism. Inspired by global movements (like Fridays for Future) and local environmental challenges, students and young professionals have organized climate marches in cities such as Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore. They use social media effectively to raise awareness, share information, and put pressure on policymakers. These movements are giving climate change a louder voice in the public sphere. For example, young activists have been vocal about issues like the Karachi heatwaves, calling for more green spaces and better urban planning.
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Young Pakistani entrepreneurs are venturing into green businesses and technological innovations. We have bright examples of university students developing eco-friendly solutions – from solar-powered devices to affordable water purification systems. Incubators and hackathons focused on sustainable development have increased, providing platforms for youth to turn ideas into prototypes. For instance, some startups are working on converting agricultural waste into biofuels or creating low-cost air quality sensors for cities. Supporting such innovation through grants or mentorship can yield homegrown solutions to climate issues.
• Community Leadership: In many communities, it’s the youth who volunteer first and mobilize others. Whether it’s forming local climate clubs, leading tree plantation drives (e.g., contributing to initiatives like the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami by mobilizing neighbors to plant and care for saplings), or running recycling campaigns in their universities, young people are influencing their local environments. These grassroots actions not only have direct benefits (like more trees for shade and carbon absorption) but also build a culture of environmental stewardship.
• Education and Skills: Recognizing the need, educational institutions and NGOs have started integrating climate and sustainability into youth programs. There are climate leadership training programs emerging that target university and high school students, teaching them climate science, project management, and advocacy skills. Youth are learning to conduct community risk assessments for disasters, to install solar panels, to practice sustainable farming – these skills empower them to build resilience in their communities. For example, a group of rural youth trained in water-conserving irrigation can help their village adapt to drought conditions, while also improving agricultural output.
• Policy Engagement: A promising trend is youth inclusion in policy dialogues. The government and international organizations have begun to recognize the value of youth perspective. For instance, at some recent national climate change events and consultations, youth representatives have been invited to share their views. Initiatives like the National Youth Council (if activated on climate issues) or youth-led think tanks and NGOs can bridge the gap between young citizens and policymakers. Some youth groups have prepared policy recommendation papers on topics like renewable energy or climate education, showcasing that they are ready to contribute intellectually, not just through activism.

Bridging Youth Development and Climate Strategy

To harness the potential of young people and protect them from climate adversities, Pakistan needs to intentionally link youth development programs with climate action:

• Climate-Smart Education: Incorporate climate change into school curricula across subjects – not just as a geography or science topic, but in social studies (impacts on society), economics (green economy jobs), and even literature (to express climate experiences). Educated youth will be better prepared to adapt and innovate. Additionally, invest in vocational training centers to teach trades that will be in demand in a greener economy (e.g., solar panel technicians, green construction skills, urban horticulture).
• Mentorship and Support: Create mentorship programs where experienced professionals in environmental science, policy, or business mentor youth-led projects. Imagine a nationwide “Youth for Climate Fellowship” that gives small grants and mentorship to youth groups with ideas to tackle local climate issues – be it setting up a community garden or developing an app that warns farmers of weather extremes.
• Youth in Decision-Making: Make it standard to include youth voices in climate-related committees and forums. This could be formal (like a youth advisory panel to the Ministry of Climate Change) or informal (regional youth roundtables feeding into provincial climate plans). Their insights, especially on long-term issues, are invaluable. Moreover, this inclusion gives them a sense of ownership and responsibility, channeling their passion into constructive policy input.
• Protecting Youth Rights in Climate Policy: Advocate internationally and nationally that the rights of young people be considered in climate policies. For example, ensure that climate adaptation plans include investments in education continuity during disasters (temporary learning centers, remote learning options), health services for young mothers and children, and job programs in climate-resilient sectors. Essentially, a climate strategy that is also a youth strategy.
• Role Models and Success Stories: Highlight and celebrate success stories of Pakistani youth in climate action. Media and government recognition of young climate heroes can inspire others. When a young girl from KP who started a micro forest in her town or a boy from Sindh who built a wind turbine for his village are showcased, it sends a powerful message: youth can drive change. It also encourages those individuals to continue and perhaps scale their work.

In summary, climate change and youth development in Pakistan are deeply interconnected. Youth are inheriting a planet and a country in flux; how we support and empower them now will determine if they merely survive in a harsher climate or thrive by leading innovative adaptation and mitigation efforts. Pakistan’s youthful population is often cited as a potential engine for economic growth – it can equally be an engine for climate resilience and sustainable innovation. By investing in youth, providing them opportunities, and listening to their voices, Pakistan can turn a climate-challenged future into a story of youthful leadership and hope. After all, the fight against climate change is a marathon, not a sprint – and it is the next generation who will carry the baton to the finish line.