Sidra Sarwer, Green Blogger

The youth can play a critical role in the global climate strikes by urging world leaders to take the necessary steps to combat the menace of climate change. The big success of the global climate strike is a warning for these leaders and the global agencies that if they do not take measures against the climate calamity, citizens everywhere will take stern action on their own against the regimes playing in the hands of global mafias.

This was stated by Environmentalist and Devcom-Pakistan Executive Director Munir Ahmed while speaking at an interactive seminar at the Youth Hostel. The event had been organised by the Pakistan Youth Hostels Association (PYHA) to mark the International Day for Peace and World Tourism Day. Ahmed said the theme of this year’s International Day for Peace was quite relevant to the climatic conditions the world is facing now.

The United Nations system recognizes the key role that youth play in tackling climate change and works closely with the youth – led and youth focused organization around the world through the United nations joint framework initiative has been coordinating efforts by sixteen intergovernmental entitities and many youth organizations to empower youth to tackle adaptation and mitigation action and enhance effective participation of youth in climate policy decisions – making process.

The food and Agricultural organization of the united Nation (FAO) support’s the development of food security and climate change educational programme and resources for rural farmer field and life school.

The united Nation development programme (UNDP) implements the Global Environmental facility’s small Grants programme which provides funding for projects on mitigation or adaptation to climate change proposedby youth organizations or Non-governmental organization that work

Through it’s climate change Education for sustainable development programme the united Nation Educational scientific and cultural organization (UNESCO) supports the development of National climate change education programme policies and resources.

The united Nation Human settlements programme (Un – Habitat) support’s youth – led groups through its urban youth fund and stop youth Resources centres to develop programmes to mitigate the effects of climate change in urban areas.

The united Nations institute for training and Research (UNITAK) support’s, through UNec:a long term and strategies developing. Learning materials for both formal and non – formal learning context and raising international awareness of the need to integrate of climate change fundamentals into national curriculum.

According to UN estimates, there are 1.21 billion young people between the ages of 15 and 24 in the world today, accounting for 15.5 per cent of the global population.

The need to include youth voices has become more pressing than ever as young people, whose futures are threatened by accelerating global heating, are increasingly demanding action towards a more just, equitable, and climate-resilient society.

In 2019 we saw grassroot climate movement explode. This movement is led by young people. Who are urging adults in power to address the climate crisis now, before it’s too late we are afraid for our lives. We are afraid of an uninhabitable planet. You had a future so should we! You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. Young people stood up to create this powerful movement. Demanding only a climate debate. We should try to take action against climate crisis.

About the Author: Sidra sarwer is a student of Environment at Department Environmental sciences at GCWUS