Islamabad: Romina Khurshid Alam, Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Climate Change, said that early education plays a key role in forming lifelong habits that could support a climate-compatible lifestyle. MNA Romina spoke here at the “Climate Compatible Education” seminar organized by the Institute of Regional Studies.
MNA shared an inspiring anecdote about a four-year-old girl who, after hearing a speech on World Environment Day, made a commitment to avoid using plastic and got her whole family to do the same. She emphasized the importance of advocacy campaigns, carbon credits and the integration of climate education at the Montessori level. Mrs. Romina pointed out that if we plant the right seeds, we will reap the right fruits.
Dr Abid Qayium Suleri, Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Institute (SDPI) and member of the COP29 Presidency Advisory Body, presented a comprehensive strategy for climate compatible education. His proposal included three key elements: curriculum reforms, implementation of renewable mitigation technologies, and development of adaptation strategies. This approach aims to address the challenges posed by climate change and promote a more sustainable future.
Sharmeela Rasool, Deputy Country Representative, UNICEF, said UNICEF research revealed the alarming reality that more than 1 billion children worldwide currently live in countries that are at “extremely high risk” of climate-related disasters. She outlined concrete action points to address these pressing challenges, with a strong emphasis on integrating climate resilience into education systems.
Punjul Nugraha, Director of the D-8 Organization for Economic Co-operation, emphasized the importance of COP29 as a pivotal platform for mainstreaming climate education into the global agenda, highlighting the potential impact of climate change on 1.2 billion children worldwide by 2050. He also urged the integration of sustainability practices , climate science and critical thinking at all levels of education.
Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan, as the host of this year’s COP, emphasized his country’s determination to support global cooperation in the fight against climate change. He expressed Azerbaijan’s efforts to lead by example and emphasized the establishment of climate-smart cities across the country as part of their development plan. He also emphasized the importance of an educated population in building resilience and effectively addressing climate-related challenges.
Shakeel Ahmed Ramay, CEO of the Asian Institute for Ecocivilization, Research and Development (AIERD), also highlighted the key role of education in addressing climate change and proposed the integration of green education into carbon credit markets as a potential solution.
