Karachi: The Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED), in collaboration with the US Mission in Pakistan, concluded the Climate Action Fellowship 2024 with a policy dialogue at F-11 College in Islamabad. The event marked the end of a yearlong fellowship that empowered 50 educators from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as climate champions, transforming grassroots initiatives into policy recommendations.
According to a statement by The Aga Khan University, the fellowship addressed the global climate crisis, which poses significant risks to KP due to its fragile ecosystems, frequent floods, and glacial melt. Educators are seen as critical actors in mitigating these challenges through increased awareness and action.
“This fellowship enabled collective action through educators in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said Dr. Fozia Parveen, Assistant Professor at AKU-IED and Principal Investigator of the fellowship. “By connecting grassroots initiatives to governance, we aim to drive sustainable, long-term change.” The event also launched two books published by the fellows, including a fiction novel and a short story compilation, along with a student contribution from Chitral.
The dialogue gathered policymakers, educational experts, and fellows to discuss integrating climate change education into provincial and national frameworks. Senior representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Climate Change, and the KP government attended.
At the event, Mr. Masood Ahmad, Secretary of the Elementary and Secondary Education Department, KP, signed the Letter of Notification and highlighted the project’s role in enabling teachers passionate about the environment to drive local action. He expressed the department’s willingness to support similar initiatives in the future as climate change continues to impact the region.
Presentations on fellowship outcomes and grassroots initiatives were featured, alongside a policy dialogue aligning climate education with national priorities. The event showcased 50 grassroots projects, including reforestation and waste management campaigns.
A panel discussion included esteemed panelists and senior educationists, such as Dr. A.H. Nayyer, a renowned Pakistani physicist and scholar; Sarah Mehmood, Manager of Environment and Social Safeguarding at WWF; Dr. Qaisar Imran, Manager of Research at the National Institute of Disaster Management; Dr. Farid Panjwani, Professor and Dean at AKU-IED; and Dr. Riaz Hussain, Assistant Professor and Head of the Professional Development Centre Chitral at AKU-IED.
The fellowship’s top 20 projects received incentives to promote scalability and sustainability. Fellows emphasized the need for curriculum reforms, teacher training, and collaboration with local communities to enhance climate education.
The Climate Action Fellowship 2024, a joint initiative of AKU-IED and the U.S. Mission in Pakistan, underscores the pivotal role of education in addressing the climate crisis and bridging the gap between policy and practice.