The melting glaciers and rising sea levels combined with higher temperatures and changing rain patterns are the tell-tale signs of the looming climate crisis. The planet is heating up at an unprecedented rate as humans continue to release toxic gases into the atmosphere and destroy the forests to fuel their modern lives. Pakistan is also facing an array of environmental problems, including deforestation and pollution, which has prompted the government to introduce the Green Youth Movement (GYM) under its widely hailed Kamyab Jawan Programme.
The launching ceremony for the Kamyab Jawan Green Youth Movement was held at the Convention Centre in Islamabad. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Youth Affairs Muhammad Usman Dar, SAPM on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam, Executive Director Higher Education Commission Dr Shaista Sohail, and Country Director British Council Pakistan Amir Ramzan were also present at the event along with a number of students from different universities.
It is also worth mentioning that British Council Pakistan has partnered with the government on Kamyab Jawan’s Green Youth Movement to drive climate action for environmental conservation.
What is the Green Youth Movement?
The Kamyab Jawan Green Youth Movement aspires to promote a culture of eco-friendliness across the country by spreading awareness and engaging the young generation to achieve the objectives of the “Clean and Green Pakistan” initiative. Deemed the third major pillar of the Prime Minister’s Youth Development Program, the Green Youth Movement will establish green clubs for students in different universities and provide them with opportunities to participate in green activities and eco-innovation.
According to the official Kamyab Jawan web portal, the government has set up Green Youth Movement Clubs in 137 public sector universities nationwide. It aims to engage 2.5 million youth through this project in a bid to tackle the environmental problems in Pakistan. Furthermore, since job creation is the main purpose of the Kamyab Jawan Programme, the eco-friendly initiative will reportedly create 65,000 green jobs across the country.
In addition, the Green Champions under the Green Youth Movement will learn new approaches to solve the environmental problems in Pakistan as well as represent the country in other parts of the world. It is also pertinent to mention that the government has invested PKR 238 million in this project to combat global warming, whereas the British Council aims to invest GBP 2.8 million in the initiative to provide technical support to the youth through training, digital engagement, and international connections.
Thematic Areas of Green Youth Movement
These are the five thematic areas under Green Youth Movement:
Agriculture and Forestry
The Green Youth Movement will focus on forest restoration, managing natural resources, improving food production, and preserving the natural beauty of the country by creating a healthier eco-system.
Liquid and Solid Waste
Liquid and solid waste management refers to the collection, transfer, processing, treatment, recycling, and disposal of waste material in an environmentally friendly manner.
Water
With the lack of clean drinking water being one of the major threats to public health in the country, the Green Youth Movement will focus on reducing water pollution through eco-friendly means.
Renewable Energy
Since it is generated from solar, wind, and hydropower, renewable energy does not emit any planet-warming gases in its production. Therefore, it is an important area of focus for the Green Youth Movement.
Eco-Tourism
Last but not least, Kamyab Jawan’s Green Youth Movement will also focus on promoting environmentally friendly tourist attractions in the country. You can read more about the importance of eco-tourism in Pakistan in our comprehensive guide on the topic.
Green Youth Movement Activities
The students and youth will get an opportunity to partake in the following activities after joining the Green Youth Movement.
- Bi-annual plantation drives
- Quarterly cleaning drives
- Water and energy conservation drives
- Eco-tourism drive, including anti-littering campaigns at tourist destinations
- Green sports
- Green elections
- Electing Green Captain and Vice-Captain
Interestingly, the Green Youth Movement is not the first or only climate-friendly initiative launched by the government in recent years. From the biogas plant in Islamabad to the Billion Tree Tsunami, the government has taken a series of impressive steps to address the biggest environmental concerns in Pakistan. The frequent tree plantation drives are also an important part of the Clean and Green Pakistan movement.
Meanwhile, the other youth-centred initiatives introduced by the PM’s Kamyab Jawan Programme include Loan Scheme, Skill Scholarship, National Youth Council, Talent Hunt Youth Sports, Kamyab Jawan Markaz, Kamyab Jawan Innovation League and Tiger Force.
