COVER STORY
Once a year, on 22 April, all schools across Pakistan celebrate the Earth Day. Project work on climate change and global warming are assigned to students. Field trips to beaches are arranged where students can be seen picking trash and putting it away in garbage bags. Students are encouraged to grow plants and conserve water, etc. This is all good, but after the Earth Day, generally the woes of the planet are forgotten by parents, teachers and students alike.
We often hear about climate change and global warming, yet many fail to recognize the existential threat they pose to our home – the planet Earth. Sadly, a large number of people remain unaware of the impacts of climate change and how global warming is altering our climate.
Although the terms climate change and global warming are often used interchangeably, climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, sea levels, and more in a specific region or globally. Climate change can be caused by a variety of factors, both natural and human-induced. Global warming specifically refers to the long-term increase in Earth’s average surface temperature. It is a key aspect of climate change, as rising temperatures are one of the most significant impacts of changing atmospheric conditions. Global warming is primarily driven by human activities that increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to a trapping of heat and a warming effect.
The need of the hour is to understand what climate change and global warming mean, and the impact of these on our planet. In this regard, schools can play an important role by teaching children what they can do in their individual capacity. Since parents are involved with their children’s school activities, they can also be indirectly reminded of the repercussions of abusing the environment. For this purpose, Institute for Global Health and Development, Aga Khan University, the U.S. Mission in Pakistan in partnership with the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network – Karachi Chapter, the Sindh Education and Literacy Department, Private Schools Management Association, and the Pakistan Academic Consortium collaborated to hold an advocacy seminar on ‘Green Schools’ at Lincoln Corner, Liaquat Memorial Library, Karachi. Dr Bhavita Kumari, from Institute for Global Health and Development, Aga Khan University hosted the event and led the proceedings. The event was targeted at primary and secondary schools’ leadership in Karachi and participants included principals, and academic and administrative heads of schools in Karachi. The advocacy seminar primarily aimed to advocate for climate-inclusive curricular and extra-curricular activities. The speakers highlighted the importance of the issue in their speeches.
Dr Bhavita Kumari – Institute for Global Health and Development, Aga Khan University
Dr. Bhavita emphasized the need to regularly talk about climate change rather than on one specific day, - i.e., the Earth Day - and expand the horizon from specific science subjects to a holistic approach.
“Climate change is badly affecting socio-economic conditions, public health and environment of the country. Increasing temperatures in Sindh and Balochistan are impacting the health of people, particularly children, so we need to take climate change seriously.”
Shahpur Jamall – Bay View Academy
Shahpur Jamall said that the world climate has significantly changed. He gave the example of the heavy rains recently in Pakistan. He said: “In the next 20 years, the impacts of climate change will be devastating. Developed countries are generating more greenhouse gasses by using fossil fuels and other energies while undeveloped countries contribute very little to the greenhouse gases.”
Shahpur Jamall called for policy changes by the policymakers so climate change education can become a part of the national curricula. “Government can help through policies like carbon pricing, renewable energy incentives, and emissions regulations,” According to Shahpur Jamall, individual efforts are not enough. “Individual actions are important for raising awareness and initiating change at the grassroots level, systemic changes are necessary for achieving large-scale emissions reductions and addressing the root causes of climate change. By educating current and future generations about climate science, impacts, and solutions, we can equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions and take meaningful action as they are our and our planets future.”
Chief Guest Zahid Ali Abbasi - Secretary to Government of Sindh, Schools Literacy and Education Department
In his address, Zahid Ali Abbasi underlined the efforts being made to make climate education a part of curriculum. Explaining the measure being adopted by the Sindh Government, he shared: “In new syllabus, climate change is included. In schools tree plantation and gardening will be started. To this end, I will start from Karachi, then move onwards to Hyderabad and ultimately the interior Sindh.” Mr Abbasi said he would work with private sector schools to ensure that climate change is integrated in school curricula.
Prof. Dr Farhan Essa - U.S. Alumni Network
Addressing the audience, Dr Essa noted that climate change is affecting humans as well as animals. “Climate is a big challenge. Mammals are moving towards human settlements and have been diagnosed with diseases like Covid,” he said and added: “A temperature rise of 2 percent will have serious consequences on food and agriculture.” Dr Essa’s brief but insightful address was interspersed with witty remarks and appropriate poetry, which made his talk very interesting. Let’s accept it: serious issues can be assimilated more easily with a lighter touch.
Barrister Athar Khan, Managing Director, Happy Palace group of schools
Barrister Athar seemed very passionate about the issue of climate change and global warming. He said that Happy Palace schools would be moving towards digital side to minimize paper usage, as too much paper is wasted currently. The school will incorporate climate inclusive curricular and co-curricular activities. He also informed the listeners that the new campuses of Happy Palace will use resources like solar and wind energies.
Dr Fozia Perveen – Institute for Educational Development, Aga Khan University
Dr Fozia captivated the audience with her superb presentation and her genuine concern about the ramifications of climate change on the planet. “Individual contribution – that is what you do – is important but it is the behavior of masses that educators can change. In this regard, interest of policy makers is of prime importance. In schools, impact of green spaces on wellbeing of students is not given due importance. Schools should use environment as a laboratory; make students grow plants, let them get their hands dirtied,” was Dr Fozia advice to the august gathering of educationists at Lincoln’s Corner.
Dr Fozia spoke about the importance of field trips in creating awareness about the surroundings. She said children should be taught to appreciate nature. She pointed out that a trip to the zoo would be more useful in teaching about different animals than a dry lesson in class. Merely reading about animals cannot generate the type of empathy that can come from seeing them.
A very important point made by Dr Fozia was that teachers, in general, are not equipped to teach the effects of climate change to students, and need appropriate training to do so. Since the attendees included school owners, principals and administrators, she hoped that they would do the needful and provide the teachers with resources and training to make their lessons interesting and easy to comprehend by integrating climate-related topics and information even when teaching subjects not directly connected with climate change. “Field trips, beach cleaning and activities like planting trees, as well as using garden and zoo visits can make students learn better with a more physically involving curriculum,” Dr Fozia advised.
Rafia Mallah Javed - Sindh Education and Literacy Department
Rafia Mallah emphasized the need to give importance to the theme of climate change in curricular as well as extra-curricular activities regularly so students can take the message home and share with their communities. Children and youth should be made aware of the climate changes taking place throughout the world. Schools should hold poster competitions to educate children. Environment clubs and societies should be in all schools and colleges.
It was heartening to note that the speeches of the chief guest and other participants generated a discussion among the guests. Many of them spoke about doing their best to spread the message so people can do what they can as individuals. Senior journalist Ghazala Fasih agreed that individual efforts are important but pointed out that the government’s role in this regard will be the key. Ms Fasih said that by using solar, wind, and hydropower energy, we can combat climate change, but government should give citizens incentives to use solar energy instead of electricity as our climate is conducive to the usage of solar energy.
Vote of thanks
Dr. Farhan Essa gave the vote of thanks before closing the event. He asked everyone present to spread the message to a much wider audience including teaching fraternity, students, their parents and families. “In this way, we hope to create a world of climate ambassadors who will work to mitigate and adapt to climate change,” he concluded.