The Department of Criminology, University of Peshawar, in collaboration with Pakistan Partnership Initiative, Community World Service Asia, and University of Peshawar Students’ Societies, organized a Two-Days Symposium on “Youth for Climate Action: Empower, Engage, Endure”. The inaugural session of the Two-Days Symposium was held on December 11, 2025.
The event was enlightened by the presence of esteemed guest speakers, including Prof. Dr. Basharat Hussain, Chairman, Department of Criminology, University of Peshawar; Mr. Asher Shehzad, Coordinator, Pakistan Partnership Initiative; Dr. Tariq Ullah, Director, Sustainable Development Unit, KP; Prof. Dr. Anwar Alam, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Peshawar; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naeem Qazi, Pro VC, University of Peshawar, and a recorded message from Mr. Frans Werter, Executive Director, Buro de Steeg, Netherlands.
The guest speakers emphasized the pivotal role of young people in shaping the climate future. Dr. Basharat Hussain underscored youth empowerment for Green Pakistan and drew attention to the relevance of criminology in understanding climate challenges. Mr. Asif Shehzad stressed the importance of local institutions working with youth and highlighted the need to prioritize vulnerable and marginalized groups to ensure inclusive climate action. Dr. Naeem Qazi reflected on climate change as a decades-long process and encouraged simple living, community engagement, and holistic approaches to resilience. Prof. Dr. Anwar Alam discussed the evolution of climate change and noted the growing significance of green crimes within criminology. Through a recorded message, Mr. Frans Werter emphasized that climate change is an urgent threat and urged young people to rely on facts, stay open-minded, and take meaningful action. Together, their insights reinforced a unified message: Empowered, Engaged, and Endure.
The event was concluded with a Shield Distribution among the guest speakers. A group photo was taken to capture the participation of guest speakers and the youth representatives united for climate action.
