Youth summit in Hyderabad calls for addressing climate change

HYDERABAD: A key session was held on climate change and the role of youth in addressing climate challenges on the second day of the Youth Empowerment Summit Sindh on Saturday.

The summit has been organised by the Sindh sports and youth affairs department.

Experts shed light on the environmental challenges facing the country and urged the young people to play an active role for finding their solutions and achieving social justice.

Renowned hydrologist of Sindh Naseer Memon, while speaking on the severe impacts of climate change on the country, said it was currently the biggest issue the country was faced with.

He warned that due to climate change, our wildlife was endangered and many species such as parrots, sparrows, jungle babblers, bees and trees, were rapidly disappearing.

He also cited population growth as a major contributor to climate change and emphasised the urgent need for a national campaign to control population growth.

Planting trees was virtuous and cutting them was a crime, he stated, adding that just like campaigns against illegal canals, action should also be taken against tree cutters.

He blamed concrete structures in Karachi for the increased temperatures and stressed the need for changing our lifestyle.

Journalist Shabina Faraz, who works on climate and environmental issues, while answering questions from youth, said young people were the asset of our country and they could bring about significant change by realising their power.

She encouraged them to raise their voices about climate change through social and digital media. She added that just like people united against the controversial canals project, everyone must also rise against climate change. She also highlighted vehicular pollution as a serious problem.

A special session titled ‘Without Gender Discrimination (Transgender Inclusion)’ was also held focusing on the challenges being faced by the transgender community.

Transgender activist Shehzadi said the transgender people faced many issues in society.

Referring to the historical recognition of transgender people, she said the Mirs of Khairpur state had allotted large tracts of land to transgender individuals.

She praised the people of Sindh for respecting the transgender people. She, however, stated that societal pressures had made their lives difficult, due to which they preferred living in isolation.

The session was attended by Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs Abdul Aleem Lashari, Deputy Director of Youth Affairs Syed Habib, assistant directors Rizwan Ahmed and Moiz Ahmed, district sports officers, social activist Sheerin Ejaz and a large number of young participants.