ISLAMABAD: Experts at a seminar titled ‘Climate-Compatible Education’, held at the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) in Islamabad, emphasized the crucial role of education in addressing climate change.
The event, part of the IRS’s pre-COP29 series, brought together influential voices from various sectors to explore how educational reforms can bolster climate resilience and sustainability.
Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, opened the seminar by underscoring the profound impact that early education can have on fostering environmental consciousness. Citing a four-year-old who pledged to avoid plastic after hearing her World Environment Day speech, Alam highlighted how foundational education shapes lifelong habits. “If we sow the right seeds, we will get the right fruit,” she remarked.
Punjul Nugraha, Director of the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation, spoke about the importance of integrating climate education into the global agenda, noting that COP29 will be a key platform for this integration. He stressed the urgency of embedding sustainability practices and climate science into educational curricula, pointing out that 1.2 billion children could be affected by climate change by 2050 without significant action.
Ambassador Khazar Farhadov of Azerbaijan, the host country for COP29, reinforced his country’s commitment to combating climate change. He highlighted Azerbaijan’s development of climate-smart cities and emphasized that educated populations are more resilient to climate impacts.
Dr. Abid Qayium Suleri, Executive Director at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), proposed a comprehensive approach to climate-compatible education, advocating for curriculum reforms, adoption of renewable technologies, and adaptation strategies. He stressed the need for a multi-faceted strategy to effectively address climate change through education.
Sharmeela Rasool from UNICEF shared alarming statistics, revealing that over 1 billion children live in countries at high risk from climate-related disasters. She called for incorporating climate resilience into education systems to better prepare future generations.
Shakeel Ahmed Ramay, CEO of the Asian Institute of Eco-civilisation, Research, and Development (AIERD), highlighted the importance of focusing educational efforts on Pakistan’s youth, who make up 60% of the population. He discussed the extensive damage to education systems caused by climate-related disasters and proposed integrating green schooling into carbon credit markets.
The seminar concluded with a call for increased collaboration between Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change and Ministry of Education to advance climate-compatible education.
Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, reflected on the need to address how climate change impacts educational outcomes, citing a World Bank study linking higher classroom temperatures to reduced learning efficiency.
Talha Tufail Bhatti, leader of the ‘Strengthening Regional Climate Resilience’ Program at IRS, expressed hope that the seminar would advance the dialogue on climate-compatible education and foster future discussions on effective solutions.
The seminar underscored the urgent need to integrate climate education into all levels of schooling to prepare students for the environmental challenges ahead and ensure a more sustainable future.
