Climate compatible education is the need of the hour: Romina

Ambassador Khazar Farhadov, Azerbaijan’s envoy to Pakistan, emphasized his country’s dedication to fostering global collaboration in the fight against climate change as the host of this year’s COP. He expressed Azerbaijan’s aspiration to set an example, emphasizing the establishment of climate-smart cities nationwide as part of their development plan

DNA

ISLAMABAD: At a seminar on ‘Climate-Compatible Education’ hosted by the Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad (IRS), Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, emphasized the crucial role of early education in shaping lifelong habits that could foster climate compatible lifestyles. She shared an inspiring anecdote about a four-year-old girl who, after hearing a speech on World Environment Day, pledged to avoid using plastic and pushed her entire family to do so as well. Ms. Alam emphasized the importance of advocacy campaigns, carbon credits, and integrating climate education from the Montessori level. She pointed out that, “If we plant the right seeds, we will reap the right fruit.”

Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President IRS, highlighted the pressing issue of climate change for the most vulnerable countries such as Pakistan, drawing attention to a World Bank and UNICEF studies indicating that elevated temperatures in classrooms can diminish student learning outcomes by as much as 25%. ‘This can also have adverse effects on heart and respiratory rates, as well as cognitive responses’, he asserted. Ambassador Saleem also underscored the significance of imparting knowledge to the youth about the impact of climate change on their lives and future so they could help in the fight against environment degradation.

The IRS’s pre-COP29 seminar brought together key national and international leaders and experts  to discuss the crucial role of education in addressing the challenges of climate change. Punjul Nugraha, Director of the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation, emphasized the significance of COP29 as a pivotal platform for incorporating climate education into the global agenda, highlighting the potential impact of climate change on 1.2 billion children worldwide by 2050. He also urged integration of sustainability practices, climate science, and critical thinking across all educational levels.

Ambassador Khazar Farhadov, Azerbaijan’s envoy to Pakistan, emphasized his country’s dedication to fostering global collaboration in the fight against climate change as the host of this year’s COP. He expressed Azerbaijan’s aspiration to set an example, emphasizing the establishment of climate-smart cities nationwide as part of their development plan. The ambassador also underscored the importance of well-educated populations in building resilience and effectively addressing climate-related challenges.

Dr. Abid Qayium Suleri, Executive Director at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and a member of the Advisory Body to the COP29 Presidency, put forward a comprehensive strategy for climate-compatible education. His proposal encompassed three key elements: curriculum reforms, the implementation of renewable technologies for mitigation, and the development of adaptation strategies. This approach aims to address the challenges posed by climate change and foster a more sustainable future.

Sharmeela Rasool, the UNICEF Deputy Country Representative, shared that UNICEF’s research  revealed the alarming reality that over 1 billion children worldwide were currently living in countries that were at “extremely high risk” from climate-related disasters. She outlined specific action points to tackle these pressing challenges, with a strong emphasis on integrating climate resilience into education systems.

Shakeel Ahmed Ramay, CEO of the Asian Institute of Eco-civilization, Research, and Development (AIERD), also emphasized the crucial role of education in addressing climate change and proposed  integration of green schooling into carbon credit markets as a potential solution.

Mr Zahid Latif Khan, Chairman AIERD, proposed collaboration between the Ministry of Climate Change and the Ministry of Education to promote climate-compatible education in Pakistan.