Floods, storms, hurricanes, typhoons and blizzards are no longer rare headlines; they have become a grim routine. Every few days, another corner of the world is struck by catastrophe. Elders remark that the weather itself has changed—hotter summers, unpredictable rains, shrinking winters. Science confirms what lived experience already knows: the climate is changing, and the consequences are accelerating.
Climate change and global warming are no longer abstract scientific terms. Global warming refers to the steady rise in the Earth’s average temperature, driven largely by greenhouse gases released through human activity—burning fossil fuels, deforestation, unchecked industrialisation. Climate change is the broader outcome: altered weather patterns, rising sea levels, melting glaciers, erratic rainfall and extreme events that disrupt both nature and human life.
The evidence is overwhelming. While temperature increases once unfolded over centuries, the pace has sharply accelerated in recent decades. The 21st century is already the hottest on record. Heat waves, floods, prolonged droughts, wildfires, rising seas and ocean acidification now threaten ecosystems, food security, public health and livelihoods across continents.
Climate change does not discriminate by borders or emission statistics. Yet its impact is profoundly unequal. Pakistan, despite contributing a relatively small share of global greenhouse gas emissions, ranks among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Recent years have brought devastating heat waves, destructive floods, water scarcity and prolonged droughts. Rivers, glaciers and groundwater reserves are under strain, reducing freshwater availability for drinking, agriculture and energy production.
Food insecurity—already a pressing challenge—has worsened as crops and livestock suffer repeated climate shocks. Longer, harsher summers increase electricity demand, while falling water levels reduce hydropower generation. Milder winters mean less snowfall, shrinking river flows and heightened drought risk. The natural balance that once sustained life and livelihoods is rapidly eroding.
Among those most affected are the least responsible: the poor, the elderly and, most critically, children. Children make up nearly one-third of the world’s population, yet they bear a disproportionate share of climate harm. Extreme heat, polluted air, unsafe water and climate-linked diseases—malaria, dengue, cholera and respiratory illnesses—pose serious threats to their health. Flood-induced displacement disrupts education; drought-driven food shortages stunt growth and development. Many of these impacts are irreversible, shaping lives before they truly begin.
Addressing climate change begins with reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning to renewable energy—solar, wind, hydro and geothermal—is no longer optional; it is essential. Energy conservation, responsible consumption and waste reduction through the three Rs—reduce, reuse, recycle—are practical steps that collectively make a difference.
Governments and policymakers carry the greatest responsibility, but responsibility does not stop there. The future generation must understand that age is not a barrier to action. Individual choices, when multiplied across households, schools and communities, matter.
Simple actions count: conserving energy by switching off unused lights and appliances; saving water through mindful use; reducing waste by buying less and reusing more; choosing to walk, cycle or use public transport; eating less meat and avoiding food waste; planting trees—especially native species that support local ecosystems.
Equally important is awareness and advocacy. Climate literacy must become a cornerstone of education. Schools can host discussions, invite experts and encourage student-led initiatives. Young people can engage their families, communities and elected representatives, pressing for climate-conscious policies and sustainable development.
The global movement led by young voices proves that action is possible. Greta Thunberg’s solitary school strike sparked a worldwide call for accountability. Licypriya Kangujam has demanded climate education as a fundamental right, reminding world leaders that children are already paying the price of inaction. Lesein Mutunkei’s “Trees for Goals” initiative shows how creativity can turn passion into impact.
Their message is simple but profound: no one is too young to matter.
This understanding is slowly entering global policy spaces. At COP30, children were formally included in climate discussions under the banner “Nothing About Us Without Us,” recognising that those most affected must have a seat at the table.
Climate change is not a distant threat; it is a present reality. Delay is no longer ignorance—it is choice. Each day of inaction compounds the cost, especially for those who will inherit the planet we shape today.
So the question is no longer what should be done, but who will act. Every drop counts. Every step matters. And the time to begin—whether as an individual, a community or a nation—is now.
