Youth-Led Climate Convention in Karachi Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Pakistan’s Children

Organized by Obun2 and others, the event

launched a landmark report, The Impact

of Climate Change on Children in Pakistan

Staff Reporter

Karachi: Youth took center stage at the two-day Youth Convention: Climate Change and Role of Youth held at Beach Luxury Hotel, Karachi. Organized by Obun2 in partnership with Terre des Hommes, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), DevCon, SPARC, and the Gender and Empowerment Organization (GEO), the event launched a landmark report, The Impact of Climate Change on Children in Pakistan.

Staggering Data Reveals Disproportionate Impact on Children
The report, authored by researcher Javeria Khan, outlines the alarming toll of climate change on Pakistan’s youngest and most vulnerable: 33 million people were affected by the 2022 floods, half of them children. Around 26,600 schools were destroyed, disrupting education for over 2 million students. In 2019, an estimated 154,000 child deaths were linked to air pollution. A shocking 119% surge in child marriages was recorded in flood-hit regions, while 11 million children were exposed to toxic smog in 2024. Alarmingly, only 3% of children in the country have access to disaster preparedness education. “These numbers are not just statistics. They are lives and futures at stake,” emphasized Obun2 Executive Director Qindeel Shujaat.

Experts Urge Youth-Driven Solutions and Government Action
Speakers from diverse sectors echoed calls for empowering youth. Terre des Hommes Country Head Salam Dharejo stated, “Pakistan’s youth have the energy and vision to lead. Let’s equip them with the right tools.” Mehran Ali Shah, Chairman of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, said, “They are already facing the consequences of climate inaction. It’s time they lead the solutions.” Iqbal Detho, Chairman of the Sindh Human Rights Commission, called climate change a human rights issue affecting dignity and survival. Ayhan Mustafa Bhutto from the Sindh Directorate of Climate Change urged innovation and government support for youth-led initiatives.

Bold Policy Proposals to Build Climate Resilience
To address the crisis, the report recommends establishing a Child Climate Fund for local adaptation and mitigation, investing in climate-resilient schools and infrastructure, integrating climate education into the national curriculum, expanding mental health and psychosocial support in disaster zones, and fostering partnerships with the private sector and global organizations for child-focused resilience programs.

Youth Take the Lead with Innovation and Advocacy
The convention featured youth-led panels, storytelling sessions, exhibits, and policy dialogues. Young participants presented innovative ideas ranging from clean energy to community-based climate adaptation. “This is not just an event—it’s a movement,” said one youth participant. Obun2 also distributed printed and digital copies of the report to policymakers, media, and civil society, supported by the stateofchildren.com portal.