Youth Are Force Multipliers for Climate Action” – Senator Sherry Rehman at Climate Youth Summit 2025

Islamabad 30,APR ,2025* 

Reported by imtiaz Ali Abbasi chief Reporter Islamabad 

Senator Sherry Rehman, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, issued a resounding call to action at the Progressive Climate Foundation’s (PCF) Climate Youth Summit 2025, urging Pakistan’s youth to rise as "force multipliers for climate action" in a nation confronting one of the world’s most dire climate emergencies.

Addressing a gathering of youth leaders, climate experts, academics, and civil society partners, Senator Rehman stressed the life-altering urgency of the climate crisis. “This is not a slow-moving disaster; this is a life-changing emergency, and the message is immediate. The house is on fire. And if we don’t act together—starting with the youth—it will burn down everything we hold dear.”

With 65% of Pakistan’s population under the age of 30, Rehman emphasized that no climate strategy can succeed without youth at its core. “You are the majority; you are the momentum. If you are not involved, it will not happen,” she stated.

Despite this demographic dividend, the statistics remain troubling. According to a UNICEF 2021 report, 73% of young Pakistanis cannot explain what climate change is—the highest rate in South Asia. 83% want to act, but lack institutional support, and 16% have never studied climate change in school. Senator Rehman called this a dangerous knowledge deficit. “This is a science-based issue. Climate change needs to be part of every curriculum. In Italy, 33 hours of climate education is now mandatory—we should go above and beyond that.”

Shedding light on the effects of climate breakdown in Pakistan are already catastrophic, Senator Rehman underscored that Pakistan has recorded 53°C summers in three different cities over the last three years, and in April 2025 alone, temperatures soared to 50°C across parts of Sindh and Balochistan. Senator Rehman also noted that 128,000 Pakistanis die annually from air pollution, while 2 million children have been impacted by climate-induced disasters, losing 97 school days—over 54% of the academic year, these are alarming statistics.

“Every single province in Pakistan is now a climate frontline. From the GLOFs in the north, to parched lands in Balochistan, to the water scarcity in the Indus Delta—this is not a theoretical discussion. This is our lived reality,” she asserted. “Climate change is not coming—it is here. And we are not responsible for the global warming that caused it, yet we are suffering its worst brunt.”

Senator Rehman applauded youth-led start-ups, university initiatives, and grassroots campaigns across the country. She urged more structured support from institutions and the state. “You are not just protesting or posting. You are innovating, building, and creating. Whether it’s in water conservation, plastic reduction, or sustainable agriculture—you are already practicing what others only preach. You must be supported, scaled, and celebrated.”

Highlighting hopeful initiatives, Senator Rehman commended the Sindh People's Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF), under which 800,000 of the 2 million homes planned are reserved for women, giving them land rights and climate-resilient housing. She also cited the Delta Blue Carbon (DBC) mangrove restoration project, which is equipping 6,000 women with training in sustainable natural resource management. “These are stories of resilience, where 72% of women in Pakistan spend up to nine hours a day collecting water in rural Pakistan—are being given the dignity of land, training, and sustainable employment.”

Senator Rehman also addressed plastic pollution as a systemic threat, revealing that only 9% of plastic globally is recycled and only 1% recycled in Pakistan, and the rest becomes “forever chemicals—microplastics, nanoplastics, carcinogens. Plastic is not just a waste issue; it’s a health crisis.” She noted that the Senate and several government institutions have banned plastic bottles and are reducing plastic use in official meetings.

“Earth is like a mother—she gives unconditionally. But her energy is depleted. If we don’t care for her now, there will be nothing left to give our children,” she warned. She added that repairing, reusing, and consuming less must become everyday actions.

On climate diplomacy, Senator Rehman underscored the rising regional tensions: “We are unable to engage in climate diplomacy due to war-mongering by India, though we should have been speaking about cooperation. The Indus Waters Treaty should not have been suspended by India unilaterally. In the 21st century, food, water, and air must not be weaponised.”

Senator Rehman concluded with a call to action: “Young Pakistanis must become custodians of the global commons. You are the agents of change. If you protect this planet, it will give back. But if you stay on the sidelines, the crisis will only deepen. We need action—not just dialogue.”