Islamabad :The seminar on ‘Climate-Compatible Education’ organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) in Islamabad brought together key figures to discuss the role of education in addressing climate change. Notable participants included Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change; Mr. Punjul Nugraha, Director of the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation; Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan, Khazar Farhadov; Dr. Abid Qayium Suleri, Executive Director at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI); Ms. Sharmeela Rasool, Deputy Country Representative at UNICEF; Mr. Shakeel Ahmed Ramay, CEO of the Asian Institute of Eco-civilisation, Research, and Development (AIERD); Mr. Zahid Latif Khan, Chairman of AIERD; and Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS.
The event, part of IRS’s pre-COP29 series, focused on integrating climate education at the Montessori level and discussed the benefits of advocacy campaigns and carbon credits. Ms. Alam stressed, “If we sow the right seeds, we will get the right fruit,” highlighting the long-term impact of foundational climate education.
Mr. Punjul Nugraha, Director of the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation, emphasized the importance of COP29 in advancing climate education on a global scale. He warned that 1.2 billion children could be affected by climate change by 2050 if urgent measures are not taken and called for incorporating sustainability and climate science into all educational levels.
Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Khazar Farhadov, reiterated his country’s commitment to climate action as this year’s COP host. He spoke about Azerbaijan’s initiatives to create climate-smart cities and emphasized that a well-educated population is better equipped to face climate challenges.
Dr. Abid Qayium Suleri, Executive Director at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), proposed a three-pronged approach to climate-compatible education: curriculum reforms, renewable technologies, and adaptation strategies. His recommendations aimed to enhance educational responses to climate issues.
Ms. Sharmeela Rasool, Deputy Country Representative at UNICEF, highlighted that over 1 billion children are at “extremely high risk” from climate-related disasters. She outlined steps to integrate climate resilience into education systems, aiming to prepare young populations for future challenges.
Mr. Shakeel Ahmed Ramay, CEO of the Asian Institute of Eco-civilisation, Research, and Development (AIERD), stressed the need for climate-focused education, particularly given the high proportion of Pakistan’s youth. He also suggested integrating green schooling into carbon credit markets to support educational infrastructure.
Mr. Zahid Latif Khan, Chairman of AIERD, expressed appreciation to IRS for organizing the seminar and emphasized the need for collaboration between the Ministry of Climate Change and the Ministry of Education to advance climate-compatible education in Pakistan. Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, highlighted the impact of classroom conditions on learning outcomes and the necessity of educating youth about climate change.
Mr. Talha Tufail Bhatti, who leads the ‘Strengthening Regional Climate Resilience’ Program at IRS, concluded by expressing hope that the seminar illuminated the importance of climate-compatible education. He reaffirmed IRS’s commitment to ongoing dialogues and future events to explore effective solutions.
