Youth climate summit seeks low-cost solutions to KP's environmental challenges

DLP Report PESHAWAR Forty-five young participants from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa took part in a three-day regional youth climate summit aimed at developing practical, low-cost solutions to environmental challenges facing local communities. The PMYDC Regional Youth Climate Summit 2026 was organised by IM|Sciences in collaboration with Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, the Directorate of Youth Affairs KP, Pakistan Development Foundation and Broadify Digital. Participants from the YDC and GYM Club of IM|Sciences and the GYM Club of SBBWUP engaged in field research, expert sessions and team-based solution building during the summit. As part of the field research, teams visited the Pipeline Track and Ayubia Bazar to examine environmental issues and interact with local stakeholders. Their research focused on waste and plastic management, water scarcity and recharge, tourism-related environmental pressures, deforestation and changing weather and environmental conditions. The three-day programme also featured sessions on climate leadership, disaster risk reduction, climate-related social and economic shocks, climate justice, climate finance, water scarcity, groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting and community-based water management. Director Youth Affairs KP said the summit demonstrated that empowered young people could move beyond discussions on climate change and develop practical solutions for their communities. He said institutional collaboration could help build climate-conscious leadership and a more sustainable and resilient Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that the Directorate of Youth Affairs would continue providing platforms for young people to turn their ideas into practical action. Chief Organiser Dr Waseef Jamal said the summit aimed to transform young people from passive observers of the climate crisis into active problem-solvers. He said climate leadership could not be developed through classroom discussions alone, adding that field visits enabled participants to understand environmental challenges in their actual social and economic context. Dr Jamal said the research, ideas and partnerships developed during the summit would be taken forward, with continued support for youth-led climate initiatives. He expressed gratitude to the partner institutions, speakers and the Directorate of Youth Affairs KP for supporting the initiative and said the participation of young people in Khanaspur offered hope for future climate action in the province.