ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan grappled with deadly monsoon floods and a projected $1.2 trillion cost of climate inaction, the British High Commission launched a nationwide climate journalism training initiative to empower media professionals to drive awareness and action.

A statement issued on Tuesday said the training will spotlight the crucial role journalists played in encouraging climate action. Journalists can spotlight climate change solutions, encourage climate action and can help their readers and viewers to understand how climate change affects them.

Deputy Director of Communications and Public Diplomacy, Sneha Lala, said: “The cost of inaction on climate change in Pakistan is $1.2 trillion by 2050. Within that figure is countless lives lost, countless numbers of people pushed into poverty, and countless livelihoods lost. It can be a bleak picture, but climate journalism is at the heart of showing us that there is another option. Climate journalism can incentivise action, spotlight solutions and create change. I look forward to seeing the stories journalists go on to produce.”

Having delivered training to journalists associated with different media outlets in Islamabad, the high commission will now hold training sessions for journalists in Lahore and Karachi.

The British High Commission will be joined by a number of Chevening alumni, who honed their climate expertise through the scholarship where they studied a master’s qualification in the UK.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2025