Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik on Wednesday said the government would empower youth-led climate innovation through a proposed \u201cGreen University\u201d initiative and international research collaborations aimed at transforming Pakistan\u2019s climate challenges into opportunities for technological and economic progress.
\nAddressing the inaugural session of the Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference here, the minister floated the idea of a \u201cGreen University\u201d for conducting applied and commercial climate research in collaboration with Italian experts and academic institutions.
\nReferring to recent discussions with Italian officials, he said Pakistani and Italian students would jointly conduct research projects under the initiative while internationally renowned professors, including Nobel laureates, would supervise the work.
\n\u201cIt was a rolling conversation in Italy that I had just a few months ago, and now we are putting together a framework,\u201d he said.
\nThe minister said Pakistan\u2019s young population possessed the imagination, scientific understanding and determination needed to develop climate solutions, stressing that the government was committed to providing them with resources, platforms and institutional support.
\nDr. Malik noted that about two-thirds of Pakistan\u2019s population comprised youth and lauded the quality education being provided by several universities across the country.
\n\u201cOur young people have ideas, technology, science and passion. Most importantly, there are still stars in their eyes and they still believe the world can be changed,\u201d he said.
\nHe said students graduating from institutions including GIK, LUMS and other leading universities had strong ideas and innovative thinking, but often lacked opportunities and pathways to implement them.
\n\u201cWe have to give them that pathway,\u201d he added.
\nThe minister announced that the government would organize quarterly competitions to support students and young innovators working on climate-related technologies, applied science and sustainability solutions.
\nAccording to him, young researchers and entrepreneurs would receive funding to pursue ideas that could help address challenges related to water, environment, clean energy and climate resilience.
\n\u201cIt is their air. They are breathing; they will find the solution,\u201d he remarked while referring to the younger generation\u2019s ability to tackle environmental challenges.
\nEncouraging experimentation and innovation, the minister said young people should be allowed to take risks without fear of failure.
\nThe minister said the government was also working on a \u201cGreenfield Pakistan Pitch\u201d initiative to connect innovative climate ideas with investment opportunities and commercial support.
\nHe said Pakistan\u2019s climate-related challenges could become the foundation for globally relevant solutions.
\n\u201cThe child who solves Pakistan\u2019s water problem can solve Africa\u2019s water problem too,\u201d he remarked, adding that billion-dollar ideas could emerge from Pakistani youth.
\nHighlighting the unequal global impact of climate change, Dr. Malik said Pakistan contributed less than one percent to global carbon dioxide emissions despite being among the countries most severely affected by floods, environmental degradation and worsening air quality.
\nSpeaking on the impact of air pollution on life expectancy, he referred to studies suggesting that polluted air could reduce average life spans by several years.
\nThe minister said around 10 countries were responsible for nearly 78 percent of global emissions, while communities in areas such as Gilgit-Baltistan continued to suffer the consequences despite contributing almost nothing to the problem.
\n\u201cThose suffering are not causing it, and those causing it are not suffering,\u201d he said.
\nQuestioning the global response to climate change, Dr. Malik asked whether the issue was one of \u201crights, justice or political will.\u201d
\nThe minister said climate change was not only a question of environmental policy but also one of imagination, responsibility and commitment toward future generations.
\n\u201cWe are doing this for our own children,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik on Wednesday said the government would empower youth-led climate innovation through a proposed \u201cGreen University\u201d initiative and international research collaborations aimed at transforming Pakistan\u2019s climate challenges into opportunities for technological and economic progress. Addressing the inaugural session of the Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":544951,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-544946","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n