I It was Monday, and Huma was attending her science class.

“Okay class, we have one last topic to cover before the exams and it’s ‘Global Warming’. Did you know that, according to some biologists, by 2050, 35% of plant and animal species could become extinct due to global warming?” asked Miss Aisha.

But before anyone could react, the bell rang, indicating the end of the class. The students jumped to their feet and hurried out of the classroom.

“Students, please research global warming before coming to the class tomorrow!” the teacher called out after them.

Huma slung her bag across her shoulder and walked out of the classroom, wondering about all her favourite animals that could go extinct. She didn’t want such a horrible thing to happen to the amazing creatures of the world.

When she reached home, the first thing she did was ask her mother about the effects of global warming and how it would impact everyone. Her mother explained global warming in a way that made everything clear to Huma and helped her understand the seriousness of the issue.

She told Huma that global warming is rapidly increasing Earth’s average surface temperature, primarily due to the greenhouse gases released by burning fossil fuels. Trees absorb carbon dioxide to create their food through photosynthesis, while releasing oxygen for all creatures. Trees are also home to countless species of animals and birds. However, when deforestation occurs, the forests and habitats of these animals are destroyed. As a result, these poor creatures have nowhere to live and slowly die away and then totally disappear. Their discussion continued even when having lunch together.

“Our Indus River is facing a similar problem because water pollution is contaminating it, which has adverse effects on marine life, especially the blind dolphin. This dolphin is finding it hard to survive due to the polluted river water,” her mother continued.

She also explained how the ice caps on mountains and glaciers are melting, endangering wildlife and raising sea levels. Furthermore, harmful and toxic emissions from factories lead to smog and lower air quality, which can be seen in cities such as Lahore and Peshawar. People there are more prone to respiratory diseases than in other cities of Pakistan.

“If you notice changing weather patterns, such as droughts in Balochistan and floods in Sindh, adversely impact infrastructure and the livelihoods of people, including farmers. Earth is warming at an unprecedented rate, and it’s high time to take action; otherwise, we will bear the brunt of our actions,” her mother warned.

Huma was horrified when her mother told her about all these terrible repercussions. She couldn’t help but think about the apocalyptic future that awaited them if no action was taken.

Huma stopped eating and asked, “Mummy, what can we do? I’m scared.”

Her mother smiled and assured her that even though it was late, it was better late than never. They could still take some practical steps to alleviate the situation without wasting time. For instance, planting more trees wherever possible to absorb carbon dioxide and opting to walk or ride a bicycle instead of using cars or bikes for shorter distances. Walking is a healthy option and cycling is an eco-friendly alternative.

She also suggested recycling and reusing old items instead of buying new ones. Her mother proposed many options to combat global warming, but the one she really emphasised was spreading the word through social media. Since social media is widely used, it’s an effective way to share their small yet impactful green steps with a larger audience.

Huma now felt quite relieved, informed and determined; she decided to take action and spread awareness about climate change. So soon after finishing her lunch, she ran to her room and started creating a video and writing about tips to combat global warming. She also planned to ask her teacher the next day at school to hold a session on global warming to spread awareness about climate change among her classmates, so they could also take action and contribute to a safer and more sustainable future.

Published in Dawn, Young World, March 15th, 2025