LAHORE: Schoolchildren and youth organisations in Lahore participated in a demonstration at the Bagh-i-Jinnah on Friday to express solidarity with the global ‘Youth Strike 4 Climate’ protests around the world.

Youth Strike 4 Climate is a growing international movement also referred to as ‘School Strike for Climate’ with the students holding protests during school hours to demand action to prevent further climate change.

The students from the Aitchison College, Lahore Grammar School (Johar Town branch), Bloomfield Hall School and other institutions participated in the strike with the support of the Pakistan Sustainability Network and the Lahore Conservation Society.

“We are in a state of denial,” said a student, Mueed Hassan.

“If we do not acknowledge that global warning and climate change are real issues, we will never take steps to mitigate their effects.

“It takes only a few years to cause environmental damage but decades to reverse the situation,” said another participant.

The strike caught worldwide attention when Greta Thunberg, a young Swedish activist, staged a sit-in outside the Swedish Riksdag (Parliament), holding a sign that read “School strike for climate” in August 2018. The students from almost a thousand schools globally are participating in this worldwide strike now.

“We want to show the older generation, politicians, government officials, policymakers and even our parents that our generation is concerned about our future as climate change is going to cause significant biodiversity, health and economic loss, not just in Pakistan but also around the world,” said Mahnoor, another participant.

Nimra Amjad, the founder of Pakistan Sustainability Network, was also present.

“Pakistan is one of the top 10 countries affected by climate change and young Pakistanis are most affected because they will bear the brunt of the most extreme effects such as drought, conflict, migration and flooding. Let us not forget that almost 30pc of Pakistanis are under the age of 29,” she said.

“Vulnerable communities do not have the physical and psychological strength and resources to recover from adverse impacts of environmental impact,” said Dr Naumana Amjad, president of the Pakistan Sustainability Network.

Imrana Tiwana, urban architect and member of Lahore Bachao Tehreek, said one objective of the strike was also to show the citizens that green spaces in cities must be protected.

“I have mobilised the children from several schools across Lahore to show that our leaders here in Pakistan need to take action on climate change urgently. Climate change will affect the poorest and youngest Pakistanis the most,” said Ali Amjad, one of the organisers of the protest.

Farwa Tassaduq, another organizer, also spoke.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2019