ISLAMABAD: Senator Sherry Rehman has urged Pakistan’s youth to rise as “force multipliers” in the country’s struggle against the climate crisis.

Speaking at the ‘Climate Youth Summit 2025’ hosted by the Progressive Climate Foundation (PCF), Ms Rehman, who chairs the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, warned of the urgent climate emergency gripping Pakistan.

“This is not a slow-moving disaster. This is a life-changing emergency. The house is on fire,” she said.

She also said if we don’t act together, starting with our youth, it will burn down everything we hold dear.

With 65 per cent of the population under 30, she emphasised that no climate solution was possible without youth leadership.

However, the senator cited a troubling 2021 UNICEF report which found that 73 per cent of Pakistani youth could not explain climate change and 83 per cent wanted to act but lacked support.

“This is a dangerous knowledge gap,” she said, calling for mandatory climate education in schools.

Sherry Rehman highlighted the alarming impact of climate change already evident across Pakistan.

“In recent years, temperatures have exceeded 50°C in multiple cities. 128,000 people die annually from air pollution and over 2 million children have missed significant school time due to climate-related disasters,” she said.

Every province is now a climate frontline, she noted, pointing to melting glaciers in the north, water shortages in Sindh and parched lands in Balochistan. “We didn’t cause this crisis, but we are paying the highest price.”

Despite the challenges, she applauded youth-led initiatives in sustainable agriculture, plastic reduction and water conservation. “You are not just protesting. You are building, creating and innovating. That must be scaled and supported.”

The senator also praised government projects like the Sindh People’s Housing for Flood Affectees and the Delta Blue Carbon mangrove restoration, which empower women with land rights and sustainable livelihoods.

On plastic pollution, she warned that Pakistan recycled just 1 per cent of its plastic, adding, “This is not just a waste issue; it’s a health crisis.”

She also criticised India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, calling for climate cooperation, not conflict. Concluding her address, she urged youth to lead the way.

“If you protect the planet, it will give back. But if you stay silent, the crisis will only grow. We need action - now,” she said.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2025