Climate change is no longer just a distant issue for Pakistan’s youth—it’s a real, urgent challenge they face every day. Young activists in the country are leading the charge for climate justice, creating local movements, raising awareness, and pushing for real changes to protect their future.
Didar Ali’s Journey to Climate Activism
For Didar Ali, climate change became personal in 2010 when floods wiped out his village’s farmland and destroyed the local plants in Ghizer, Gilgit-Baltistan. Since then, his village has faced regular flooding and landslides, disrupting weather patterns that were once predictable.
Many of the elders in his village believed the disasters were a punishment from God. However, after learning about climate change, Didar realized that the issue was much bigger, a result of human activity impacting the planet. This understanding inspired him to educate others, especially the youth, on climate change and its real impact.
Didar noticed that the lack of awareness about climate change was due to outdated school curriculums. These curriculums didn’t explain the science behind the changing environment. So, alongside his studies at university, he began working with two youth-led groups: the Booni Environmental Academy (BEA) and Climate Forward Pakistan (CFP). Both organizations aim to equip young people with the knowledge and tools to take action on climate issues in their local areas.
In 2022, Didar played a key role in organizing a regional climate summit in Chitral, in partnership with the Canadian High Commission. The event brought together over 60 activists for a five-day workshop where they learned from environmental scientists, including Dr. Fozia Parveen, about the science of climate change and how it impacts their region. They also discussed how they could help reduce its effects.
The BEA has also set up a wildlife research center to study the biodiversity of Chitral, track migratory birds, and research the area’s plants and wildlife.