Youth Delegation Attends Climate Change Summit

ISLAMABAD, November 03, 2010: A Pakistani youth delegation attended the Second South Asian Youth Summit on Climate Change (SAYSoCC) in Colombo, Sri Lanka to highlight the devastation caused by the recent floods in Pakistan and asked for suggestions to overcome the similar disasters in the region.

The summit brought together 30 youth across South Asia to create a unified platform to act collectively global effort to restore the climate crisis and highlight the need for adaptation in the region. The summit concluded on November 1st.

Four talented Pakistani youth - Fatima Rasheed, Zeeshan Hyder, Farrukh Zaman and Sabina Rizwan - were selected by the Pakistan Youth Climate Network [PYCN] to attend the summit after a competitive application process.

The Pakistani delegation highlighted the devastation caused by the recent floods in Pakistan and sought suggestions for strategies to adjust and mitigate the impact of similar disasters in the region.

Participants of the summit included students, young professionals, researchers and activists got a chance to interact and learn from the professionals, experts and officials that were invited to conduct workshops and plenary sessions.

“We will unleash powerful force acting on a noble cause, an entire generation mobilized for a healthier climate and a more sustainable future”, said Shakeel Ahmed, Head, Climate Change Study Centre, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

The summit not only succeeded in imparting practical information and knowledge to the participants, but also inspired the South Asian youth to reconcile their differences and celebrate their collective commitment to respond to climate change.