Empowering Youth for Climate Resilience Urged: CPDR Hosts Workshop on Climate Action in AJ&K:

English , Kashmir - آزاد جموں کشمیر , Snippets , / Sunday, February 2nd, 2025

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Altaf Hamid Rao.
MIRPUR ( AJK): February 2 : Seasoned environmental experts, while addressing a capacity building workshop, exclusively for youth, strngky stressed the urgency of building adaptive capacities among young leaders to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change in Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJ&K), a region highly susceptible to extreme weather events, glacial melting, and environmental degradation.

AJK-based Kashmiri NGO / think tank – The Centre for Peace, Development, and Reforms (CPDR)
hosted the Youth Climate Resilience Workshop at the federal metropolis late Saturday bringing together young climate advocates, researchers, and policy makers, hailing from across Azad Jammu Kashmir, to develop youth-led solutions for tackling climate challenges in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K).

Our Special Jammu and Kashmir state Correspondent Altaf Hamid Rao reports that Correspondent reports that the event emphasized the crucial role of youth engagement in climate adaptation and mitigation, fostering innovative approaches to enhance AJ&K’s climate resilience.

The workshop featured interactive discussions and expert-led sessions, allowing participants to explore and discuss solutions to address climate vulnerabilities in their communities.

The workshop began with an insightful opening session led by Sher Shah Khan Bangash, CEO Skillistan, who discussed global climate challenges and the role of youth in shaping climate resilience policies. He emphasized the importance of youth-driven advocacy
and community-based action in combating climate threats, urging young leaders to take
an active role in addressing environmental challenges.

Following this, Dr. Shaheen Akhtar, HOD International Relations ( IR ) Department National Defense University
(NDU) Islamabad, delivered a comprehensive session on climate adaptation and
mitigation strategies, highlighting the need for youth participation in nature-based
solutions, disaster preparedness, and ecosystem restoration initiatives. She stressed that young people are not just stakeholders but key drivers of meaningful climate action.

Participants were encouraged to share their ideas and innovative climate solutions with
CPDR for further review. CPDR committed to evaluating these proposals to determine
their feasibility and reconvening with participants for future discussions and potential
implementation. This approach ensures that young voices remain at the center of
actionable climate resilience strategies.
The workshop also resulted in several key commitments.

Empowering young climate
leaders emerged as a central theme, with an emphasis on capacity-building programs
that equip youth with the knowledge, skills and resources to lead climate action in
AJ&K. Policy advocacy was another major takeaway, with experts and participants
calling for greater youth representation in environmental decision-making processes at
both governmental and non-governmental levels.

Additionally, the workshop
underscored the importance of community-based action, highlighting how youth-led
grassroots movements can play a vital
role in enhancing climate resilience, particularly
in rural and vulnerable communities
The event reinforced the need for a collaborative, youth-centered approach to climate
resilience in AJ&K, with participants leaving motivated to take concrete steps toward a sustainable future.

In his closing remarks, Irtaza Muhammad, Director Programs of CPDR, emphasized
CPDR’s commitment to fostering climate-conscious leadership among the youth of
AJ&K. He stated: “Youth are at the forefront of the climate crisis, and their active
participation is key to driving sustainable solutions. CPDR is dedicated to equipping
young leaders with the tools needed to create a climate-resilient future.

The workshop also featured valuable contributions from climate advocates, researchers,
journalists, and student leaders, including Hunain Mehmood, Ayesha Khan, Mughiza
Imtiaz, Hasiba Aziz, Mohid Zafar, Muhammad Abdullah, Uzair Sarfaraz and Huzaifa
Khan, all of whom reinforced the importance of youth-led initiatives in shaping climate
policies and building resilient communities.

Speakers termed the initiative another milestone in CPDR’s climate action efforts, as the
organization continues to work towards inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient
development in AJ&K.