Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Jan, Assistant Professor, Centre for Preparedness and Disaster Management, University of Peshawar, moderated the panel discussion on Youth for Climate Action: Empower, Engage, Endure opened the session by asking what role young people can play in addressing the climate crisis.
Dr. Hizbullah, Climate-Change Expert and Former Director, Department of Environmental Sciences, highlighted the link between climate change, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, and pointed to programmes such as the One Billion Trees Tsunami, the Green Career Launchpad, and the Green Growth Initiative, while noting the shortage of climate-related research and the limited dissemination of existing studies for public awareness.
Mr. Syed Abdullah Shah, Additional Secretary at the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, emphasised the religious and social responsibility of climate resilience and shared that the revised Youth Policy will focus on four key areas: education, employment, engagement, and environment.
Mr. Habib Jan, Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stressed that meaningful behavioural change requires ownership and responsibility, arguing that youth must be positioned as central stakeholders in policymaking. He outlined approaches to mitigation and adaptation, the need for funding, the importance of green entrepreneurship, and awareness on waste management and water conservation.
Mr. Kashif Syed, Bureau Chief, Pashtoon Digital shared his personal efforts, including planting 500 trees in his hometown and leading plantation activities across the University of Peshawar, calling for more practical, individual-level climate action.
Dr. Shakeel Khan, Focal Person at the Business Incubation Centre, underlined the significance of youth as a vital component of national progress and highlighted the need for mobilising young people through awareness and effective youth-led initiatives.
The event also featured distinguished guest speakers, including Prof. Dr. Jahanzeb Khan, Vice Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology, invited as the Chief Guest, who discussed the social character of youth, environmental anxiety, weak legal implementation, and the identity crisis that limits youth ownership in climate action.
Prof. Dr. Naeem Qazi, Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Peshawar, who encouraged an individual-centric approach to environmental responsibility and stressed the value of annual plantation drives.
Dr. Anwar Alam, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, spoke about youth awareness of climate challenges and resilience.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Basharat Hussain, Chairman of the Department of Criminology, expressed gratitude to the speakers, panellists, and participants and reiterated that climate action must begin with individual commitment. The event concluded with a shield distribution ceremony, followed by a group photograph to formally mark the closing of the session.
The Two-Days Symposium on Youth for Climate Action: Empower, Engage, Endure was organized by the Department of Criminology in collaboration with Community World Service Asia, Pakistan Partnership Initiative and University of Peshawar Students’ Societies at Business Incubation Centre, University of Peshawar.
