Karachi: – Senator Sherry Rehman, Chief Guest at the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) session “Creating Resilience Through Climate Education”, called for a fundamental shift in how climate change is taught in Pakistan. Organized by the KLF and Teacher Resource Centre (TRC) and led by its Director, Ambreena Ahmed, the session underscored the importance of climate literacy as a crucial tool for national resilience and sustainable development.
Senator Rehman urged immediate reforms in education policies to equip Pakistan’s youth with the knowledge and skills necessary to address the mounting climate crisis.
“In a world where tolerance is low and misinformation spreads fast, there is nothing more dangerous than an uninformed population,” stated Senator Rehman. “We often get lost in jargon, holding conference after conference—29 climate conferences later, we are still seeing global emissions rise instead of fall. Meanwhile, facts on the ground are changing at an alarming pace, and climate disasters are only accelerating.”
Senator Rehman stated, “Pakistan’s youth demographic—one of the largest in the world—can be a game-changer in tackling the climate crisis. Currently, over 65% of Pakistan’s population is under 30 years old, and by 2047, 50-60% will still be under a median age of 30. However, despite their potential, Pakistani youth remain largely uninformed about climate change. A UNICEF survey found that 73% of young respondents in Pakistan could not explain climate change and global warming, the highest rate among all eight South Asian countries. Only 16% reported learning about climate change in school, compared to the regional average of 36%.”
Senator Rehman emphasized, “The heart of a good education is a good teacher, and it is our teachers who must guide students in understanding the fragility of our environment. If we fail to do that, we are ignoring a crisis that will define their future,” said Senator Rehman. She welcomed TRC’s climate education curriculum, calling for an interdisciplinary approach that integrates climate awareness across subjects rather than confining it to science or geography classes. “Currently, 36% of Pakistani students learn about climate change in science classes, while 30% learn about it in geography. We need to go beyond that.”
Senator Rehman called on teachers and parents to encourage students to take responsibility and become agents of change. “When a country needs transformative action, planting a tree is not enough. Show us how you save water, how you reduce your carbon footprint, and what you have done for your community. Teach children to nurture, replenish, and fight for their future.”
She emphasized that Pakistan remains on the frontlines of climate change, with its vulnerability compounded by structural challenges, poor environmental governance, and a lack of public awareness. “Karachi, as a coastal city, is particularly at risk. The Arctic ice is melting faster, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. In 2022, Pakistan witnessed one of the worst climate catastrophes in history—one-third of the country was submerged, impacting 33 million people, displacing millions, and severely disrupting education. Over 27,000 schools were affected, and the studies of 2 million children came to a halt.”
Senator Rehman warned that climate change is not just an environmental issue—it is a force multiplier of existing inequalities. “Climate change creates a new layer of inequality, deepening social vulnerabilities. Water and food insecurity will hit the most marginalized the hardest, impacting health, livelihoods, and overall quality of life.”
Senator Rehman underscored, “Pakistan’s water crisis is particularly dire. The country is set to be water-scarce by 2025, which is now, yet it has the fourth-largest per capita water consumption rate in the world. Currently, 60% of Pakistan’s population lacks access to safe drinking water, leading to 53,000 child deaths annually due to consuming contaminated water. Additionally, 40% of Pakistan’s population faces food insecurity and water scarcity will only exacerbate this crisis.”
The Indus River, which provides 90% of the country’s freshwater, is the second most polluted river in the world. “We are dealing with industrial waste, sewage, plastics, and forever chemicals in our water bodies. Fish are consuming microplastics, and in turn, so are we. We don’t even know the extent of contamination in what we call ‘organic’ produce. It’s about the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink,” Senator Rehman asserted. Globally, only 9% of plastic is recycled, whereas Pakistan recycles just 1% of its plastic waste.
Senator Rehman acknowledged the resilience of Pakistan’s people and highlighted innovative solutions emerging across the country. “Pakistan is moving towards renewable energy, with the rooftop solar revolution gaining momentum. We also have innovation hubs with youth working on climate solutions, but they lack the scalability due to insufficient funding.”
Senator Rehman shed light on resilient housing efforts underway in Sindh, where 2.1 million climate-resilient homes are being built under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), with land titles granted to women. Studies show that 72% of household water collection is done by women, reinforcing the need for gender-inclusive climate policies. “When women manage water, they conserve it. We need people-centric, inclusive climate solutions,” she emphasized.
On the global stage, she pointed out Pakistan’s struggle in securing adequate climate finance. “We are not causing this overheating of the planet. Yet, despite being among the most impacted countries, we have received only a fraction of the climate finance we need. What we get is piecemeal, while developing countries continue to suffer.”
She concluded with a powerful call to action: “Our children must know that Pakistan is not a major emitter, yet we are paying the highest price, we are emitting less than 1% of the global greenhouse gases. We must demand climate justice internationally. We must teach our youth to advocate for their rights, hold leaders accountable, and take action. Climate change is here, and it will shape their future. The time to act is now.”
The session at KLF brought together educators, policymakers, and climate advocates, reinforcing the urgent need for climate literacy as a pillar of national resilience. The event concluded with a commitment to mainstreaming climate education in Pakistan’s schools and empowering youth to lead against environmental degradation.