Climate Risks
The Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam, reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to protecting its children from the devastating impacts of climate change.
Speaking at the COP29 global climate conference, she announced that the federal government, in collaboration with provincial governments, will prioritize child-focused climate adaptation and resilience strategies.
“Recognizing the vulnerability of our youngest and most marginalized populations to climate-induced disasters, we pledge to incorporate child-centric measures into our national climate strategies,” she stated during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and UNICEF.
The ceremony, held at the Pakistan Pavilion, marked a significant step towards addressing the risks children face due to climate change.
The MoU was signed by Federal Secretary for Climate Change Aisha Humera Moriani and UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, as part of the Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action.
This global pledge underscores commitments by governments to prioritize the needs and rights of children and youth in climate adaptation policies.
Representatives from Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments, including Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, also pledged to protect children’s rights amidst the ongoing climate crisis.
Romina highlighted the government’s focus on enhancing access to education, health, and nutrition services in climate-affected areas, while investing in sustainable infrastructure to shield schools and communities from extreme weather events.
She emphasized the importance of empowering children as agents of change by involving them in climate programs and fostering a generation of climate-conscious leaders. “We commit to integrating child rights into Pakistan’s climate policies, including the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) 3.0, which will be central at COP30 in Brazil next year,” she remarked.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah echoed these sentiments, advocating for the inclusion of climate realities in education curricula to prepare young people for a green economy.
Rising greenhouse gas emissions, intensified heatwaves, and frequent flooding disproportionately impact Pakistan’s children, exposing them to health risks, displacement, and trauma.
Alarmingly, 112 million children in Pakistan are vulnerable to these climate challenges, underscoring the urgency of integrating their voices into policy-making.
The Government of Pakistan and UNICEF remain deeply committed to mitigating these risks and fostering resilience among its youngest citizens, ensuring they are equipped to navigate a world increasingly shaped by climate change.
