Youth Activism and Climate Change: Youth as Change Agent in Changing Climate

Climate change is one of the most critical challenges that Earth is facing today. Recent events all around the world have demonstrated it quite horrifically that climate change， if not dealt properly， can cause human race great losses and would leave our societies in ruin if it is not a complete extinction on the Earth. Floods in Pakistan， Droughts in China and India， Hurricanes in United States of America， Tsunamis in Southeast Asian countries， earthquakes in China and other parts of the world， famines and changing climate in many African countries， torrential rains land losses in coastal areas of several countries and number of other such events depict that this changing climate has multi-faceted impacts and correspondingly it requires to be dealt with a sense of urgency and at different levels. Otherwise the overall eco-system of this planet is going to change drastically which may result in human extinction from the face of Earth and as some scholar has described this threat to our existence as “this planet has seen many extinctions and outlived them so it’d outlive next one also but maybe it will be us， the humans， who would not be there to see what it would be like afterwards”.

今天，氣候變化是地球面臨的最關鍵的挑戰之一。氣候變化是一場極其可怕的災難，會對人類造成巨大的損失，如果氣候變化沒有得到合理的應對，我們的社會就算不從地球上絕跡，也至少會成為一堆廢墟。近年來世界各地發生的各種破壞性自然災害正說明了這一事實：巴基斯坦的洪水、中國和印度的干旱、美國的颶風、東南亞的海嘯、中國和世界其他地區的地震、非洲國家的饑荒、多個國家沿海地區的陸地被暴雨侵蝕等等。這些事件說明，氣候變化的影響是多面的，人們必須對此抱有緊迫感，從各個方面應對氣候變化。否則，地球整體的生態系統將會被徹底改變，人類也將從地球上消失。有些學者這樣描述我們所面臨的威脅:“這顆星球已經見證了許多物種的滅絕，它存在的時間已經超過了這些滅絕的物種，并且還將繼續超過下一個將要滅絕的物種，而這個物種可能就是我們人類，到那時，我們也許沒有機會看到再下一個會是誰。”

This is merely a glimpse of the whole picture and impacts climate change can cause to our planet. Efforts are being made to fight climate challenge at global， regional， and national levels all around the globe and even at provincial and district levels inside borders. Although these efforts differ in their capacity and range but an optimist would argue that something or other is being done to adapt and mitigate to climate change at almost all levels but all these efforts collectively are not yet sufficient enough to the extent which would save us from the avoidable climate impacts. United Nation’s expert bodies on climate change keep warning from time to time about lack of determination and efforts by the global community to fight climate change. Climate change is a global problem but can be fought within confines of borders at country level by all the nations of the world and then build a collective effort by the global community. Consensus has been reached on climate change and measures to adapt and mitigate to climate change but collective actions of the global community are not yet sufficient enough while time is ticking and situation is worsening. One reason behind such inaction as experts say， is that countries of the world don’t own this issue as they own or act towards other issues of national interest and thus with lack of political will to act towards solving this problem their action often lack the required zeal to deal with the issue.

以上所說的僅僅是冰山一角，氣候變化對地球的影響遠不止于此。現在，全球都在開展應對氣候變化的行動，有世界性的、區域性的還有國家性的，有些國家甚至有省級的和區級的。這些行動的力度和覆蓋范圍不盡相同，樂觀主義者會說，這些行動已經是從各個層面采取的適應和減緩氣候變化的措施。但是，即便是這些行動全部匯總，也還是不足以使我們免遭氣候變化的影響。聯合國氣候變化的專家經常對國際社會發出警告，指責其在應對氣候變化上缺乏決心和行動力。氣候變化雖然是一個全球性的問題，但卻可以在國家層面得到解決，世界各國可以在自己的疆域范圍內采取措施，然后再由國際社會將這些措施進行整合匯總。在適應和減緩氣候變化方面，各國已經達成了共識，但是國際社會所采取的具體措施卻遠遠不夠，所以，隨著時間一分一秒的流逝，情況卻變得越來越糟。有專家指出，這些“不作為”背后的一個原因是因為各國并沒有將氣候變化的問題當作像其他關乎國家利益的問題一樣看待，從而缺乏解決問題的政治意愿和熱情。

Take India and Pakistan， for example， both the countries have been involved in conflicts over Kashmir， Siichin， Kargil， and other high altitude areas covered with glacial ice. Initially these conflicts started as more of geopolitical disputes but since both the countries are lacking water for their agriculture and power generation and with the changing climate the situation has worsened so， these conflicts have been fueled by changing climate and armed forces from both the countries keep trying to gain control over above mentioned places to tap water from these huge water resources from Karakorum range but at the same time there has been very few efforts to adapt and mitigate climate change and the biggest reason behind such inaction is public unawareness and lack of demand from common masses to fight against climate change. These conflicts have long destabilized the region and as a result ecological balance of the natural habitat is also disturbed. Apart from these conflicts governments from both the countries have been announcing policies to deal with changing climate but their actions have never matched their words. Pakistan a couple of years ago， cut down the allocated budget amount to fight climate change by almost half (total amount for environmental protection is already 0.04% of whole budget amount) while it had issued a national policy on climate change and had expressed determination to fight against climate change and thus its actions went into another direction contrary to its own national policies.

以印度和巴基斯坦為例，這兩個國家都卷入了克什米爾、卡吉爾以及其他被冰川覆蓋的高緯度地區沖突中。從一開始，這些沖突的發生就遠非地緣性政治糾紛，而是由于這兩個國家沒有充足的水源供農業和發電使用，而隨著氣候變化的加劇，情況又更加惡化。所以，氣候變化讓這些沖突火上澆油，這兩個國家武裝部隊都想占領并控制以上這些地區，從而獲取喀喇昆侖區域龐大的水資源。然而，他們在適應和減緩氣候變化方面采取的措施卻是少之又少，這種“不作為”的最大原因就是公共關注度的缺乏，民眾并沒有應對氣候變化的需求。這些沖突造成該區域長期處于不穩定的狀態，當地的生態平衡也受到了影響。除了制造這些沖突，這兩個國家的政府一直都有頒布應對氣候變化的政策，但是他們的承諾從來都沒有兌現。兩年前，巴基斯坦將其應對氣候變化的國家預算削減了幾乎一半（環境保護方面的預算只有全部預算的0.04%），但同時該國又頒布了一項應對氣候變化的國家政策，并表示了其應對氣候變化的決心。由此可見，他的實際行動已經背離了國家政策。

Despite this gloomy picture of global politics and lack of concrete actions， there is a new hope in countries like India and Pakistan. “Youth” which is biggest chunk of the population from both the countries and young people being proportionally better literate are vying to make a difference in every walk of life including efforts to save their nations in particular and the world in general from impacts of climate change. Pakistan has 35% of its total population aged 15 or under and 47% of its total registered voters are aged between 18-35 years while India also has 35% of its whole population aged 20 years or less. Many youth lead philanthropic organizations have sprung up in both the countries and such philanthropic organizations are trying to bring about public awareness of youth related issues and problems along with creating awareness about challenges faced by societies including the challenge of climate change. As UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon in 2007 expressed his belief in youth by saying that these youth are leaders of future and with amazing capability of adapting to new technologies and using them for benefit of humankind they can be the drivers of change. Youth has been a dominant deciding factor in recent elections in India and Pakistan during year 2014 and 2013 elections respectively.

Youth with their pulsating enthusiasm and vibrant activism have started leading efforts to demand better legislation and more tuned efforts to solve issues including climate change. While， in developed world like United States youth is also providing with innovative technologies and technology based initiatives to slow down climate change， youth in developing countries like India and Pakistan are not also behind those in developed world. Adaptation to low carbon lifestyle is easier for youth as they are not only better literate but also because of abilities to use technologies better they have an extra advantage. Many youth led activist organization have sprung up both in India and Pakistan.

盡管國際政壇和缺乏實際行動的國際社會呈現出這樣一幅讓人沮喪的畫面，但是在印度和巴基斯坦這樣的國家卻出現了新的希望。在這兩個國家中，青年人所占的比例最高，他們的受教育情況也更好，他們都希望在各行各業有所建樹，其中包括具體的拯救自己的國家和總體上拯救世界。巴基斯坦15歲及以下的人口占全國人口的35%，該國47%的登記選民年齡在18-35歲之間，而印度20歲及以下的人口也有35%。許多由青年領導的慈善組織如雨后春筍般出現在這兩個國家，這些慈善組織試圖引起公眾對青年問題的關注，并且創造一些機會讓公眾關注社會正面臨的挑戰，這其中就包括氣候變化的挑戰。正如2007年聯合國秘書長潘基文所說，他對青年抱有信心，并且認為青年是未來的領導者，他們具備適應新科技的優秀能力，并且能夠利用這些科技造福人類，青年會成為變革的推動者。在2014年的印度大選和2013年的巴基斯坦大選中，青年已經成為主導性的決定因素。

憑借著涌動的熱情和充滿活力的行動力，青年已經開始在優化立法和用更加協調的方法解決諸如氣候變化等問題上發揮領導作用。像美國這種發達國家的青年正在創造著許多創新型技術和用于減緩氣候變化的技術，而像印度和巴基斯坦這樣的發展中國家的青年也不甘落后。對青年來說，適應低碳生活沒那么難，不僅因為他們受到過良好的教育，還因為他們具備一個額外的優勢，這就是使用這些技術的能力。因此，在印度和巴基斯坦出現了許多由青年人領導的活動及組織。

We contacted some of these youth led organizations from both India and Pakistan to know about their efforts in detail about solving problems of their communities and societies in general and their efforts to create public awareness about climate issue. Among hundreds of such organizations we talked to Progressive Vellore’s founder Muhammad Sayeed Shokat. Sayeed， who is researcher with Doha based Qatar Foundation and runs his own youth led initiative in small district of Vellore， some 200 kilometers from south Indian state of Tamil Nadu’s capital Chennai， believes in change through research and awareness. His philanthropic initiative， Progressive Vellore named after the district Vellore， started merely a couple of year ago and aims at mapping air quality， water levels， recording agricultural development activities and keeping a track of urbanization in Vellore in order to bring in sustainable development which is in harmony with the local ecological settings of Vellore. Sayeed believes in participatory research and bringing change from grassroots and from local governmental level. Citing organization’s theory of change and strategy of networking， he says， “District-level change is what we believe in. Adaptation and transformation at a small community level is less tough than transforming the entire State or a nation. There are several examples across the world; vibrant， proactive， forward looking， strong community participation has transformed the community of living and harmony. Developing a shared vision is a key. Once the vision is created， strategies and targets have to be put in place and lobby with the local authorities to implement timely strategies.”

我們與這兩個國家的這些組織進行了接觸，并詳細了解他們是如何解決社區和社會問題，以及如何引起公眾對氣候變化的關注。在數百個這樣由青年領導的組織中，我們采訪了Progressive Vellore組織的創立者默罕默德·賽義德·肖卡特，他認為研究調查和關注度能夠帶來改變。賽義德現在是多哈卡塔爾基金會的一名研究員，他經營的這個位于韋洛爾市慈善組織僅成立了兩年，距印度南部泰米爾納德邦的首府清奈200公里，Progressive Vellore這個組織的名字也是根據韋洛爾（Vellore）這個城市而命名。該組織旨在通過記錄空氣質量、河水水位、農業發展活動以及跟蹤韋洛爾市的城市化進程讓韋洛爾走可持續發展的道路，與當地的生態環境形成協調發展。賽義德相信參與研究是有意義的，認為當地的民眾和政府能夠帶來改變。根據該組織關于變化的理論和網絡戰略，賽義德說道：“我們主張的是區級變化，雖然小型社區層次上的適應和轉型不如改變整個國家般困難，但是世界上已經出現了許多這樣的案例：活躍、主動、有遠見的強大社區參與已經讓社區的生活和和諧情況發生了改變。這其中的關鍵是要建立一致的觀念，一旦形成了這樣的觀念，必須制定相應的戰略和目標，并游說當局及時實施這些戰略。”

On the other hand Sayeed complaints about the role media has played to bring about awareness and also criticizes government for over-politicizing the matter for the sake of gaining certain leverages on international platforms. Media brings covers news on climate change in very episodic way and often connects it to certain events happening during that time of coverage and there is no on-going coverage of climate change and other collective public issues in media while 24/7 news media broadcasts scandals and other sensational news round the clock so element of public awareness is missing and media by no means represents society. Young activists now use new media tools such as Twitter and Facebook to produce ripples but in countries like India and Pakistan where internet penetration rate is very low and internet is mostly used for leisurely purposes， it is difficult to bring about public awareness through only new media even though it is helping a lot recently. But because of huge chunks of population in both the countries are illiterate and also don't have access to internet so TV and radio are the main source of information in suburban and rural areas.

另一方面，賽義德對媒體在引發關注度方面發揮的作用表示不滿，并且批評政府為了在國際舞臺獲得某些影響力而將其過度政治化。媒體對氣候變化的報道也只有只言片語，通常這些報道還必須與當時發生的頭條新聞相聯系。媒體的報道中，沒有關于氣候變化方面的連續報道，也沒有其他綜合性的公共問題的報道，相反卻時時刻刻充斥著丑聞和其他敏感新聞，這樣便無法獲得公眾關注的基礎，媒體也就不再能代表社會。現在，年輕的行動主義者利用推特和臉書這樣的新媒體發聲，但在印度和巴基斯坦這樣的國家，互聯網的普及度非常低，人們利用互聯網主要是為了娛樂休閑，所以即便最近一段時間新媒體在引發公共關注上幫助很大，但要想完全依靠新媒體還是有一定的困難。雖然這兩個國家有很大一部分人受到過良好的教育，但是他們卻又沒法接觸到互聯網，所以在城郊和農村地區，電視和廣播成為他們獲取信息的主要途徑。

While international youth led organizations like 350.org and greenpeace are also working in India， an India based Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) has successfully registered itself in youth activism for climate change. IYCN operates to groom young climate leaders and has its presence in several colleges and universities across India. IYCN members work to generate consensus on what role India should play in the global debate of climate change， and how it should address its domestic issues.

ShirkatGah， a civil society organization working on gender equality in 44 districts of Pakistan’s all four provinces， is a unique initiative in terms of raising awareness and fighting climate change with gender perspective. Organization has published several research based reports and papers on environment and globalization assessing the impacts of environmental changes on women in Pakistan. One of the studies titled “Poisoned Lives: The Effects of Cotton Pesticides” places the problems of women cotton pickers in the context of pesticide policies in Pakistan. It reviews the devastating ecological changes taking place due to the so-called “Green Revolution” and alternatives to pesticide dependence， and includes a number of recommendations for coping with the environmental ecological， and gender related problems emanating from use of pesticides in cotton farming areas of Pakistan.

與此同時，印度還有一些其他的由青年領導的國際組織，比如350.org和“綠色和平”組織。總部位于印度的“印度青年氣候網絡（IYCN）” 已經成功注冊成為致力于氣候變化中的青年運動的國際組織。該組織主要培養氣候變化方面的青年領導者，并且已經在印度的一些高校中嶄露頭角。IYCN旨在促成印度在全球氣候變化的爭論中的角色共識以及解決國內問題。

Shirkat Gah是一個關于性別平等的民間組織，分布于巴基斯坦4個省份的44個區，同時也是從性別這個角度提升公眾關注度和應對氣候變化的獨特首創。該組織發表了一些關于環境和全球化的研究報告，評估了環境變化對巴基斯坦女性的影響。其中有一篇名為“中毒的生活：棉花農藥的影響”的報告提出了在巴基斯坦農藥政策背景下女性采棉者所面臨的問題。文章評論了所謂的“綠色革命”引發的生態巨變和為了避免作物產生農藥依賴性的農藥替代品，提出了在巴基斯坦棉花種植地區使用農藥引發的性別問題及應對生態環境的建議。

Rab Nawaz， a young leader and head of Khudi.org’s Lahore chapter in Pakistan， opines that youth in Pakistan can change the course of history of the country provided that shown the right path. He describes how extremism has been on rise in Pakistan due to wrong policies and has adversely affected youth. His organization Khudi organizes events， seminars， platform， and conferences on civic education， constitutional literacy and extremism. “The whole ecological setting of our society is at stake because of conflicts and extremism so we try to deconstruct common discourse on extremism through meeting， seminars conferences， and trainings for youth”， Rab Nawz mentions efforts his organization takes to eradicate evil of extremism from society.

Hundreds of other such organizations like Progressive Vellore， Indian Youth Climate Network， Shirkat Gah， and Khudi are working both in India and Pakistan on range of issues encompassing youth in particular and whole society in general. Vibrant youth in these and other such developing countries is key to peace and sustainable development which is ecologically safe and climate friendly. What is required is improved and inclusive efforts by such youth led initiatives to bring youths from society together and build awareness and consensus on local， provincial， and national levels on all issues and problems including environment and climate change which would pressurize governments for favorable policies and actions accordingly to deal with all the issues. Youth is undoubtedly the future of India and Pakistan and it can easily make a difference with concerted efforts to change destiny of both the nations and also play its role in global climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.

巴基斯坦胡迪組織拉哈爾分會會長拉布·拉瓦茨是一名青年領導，他認為假如巴基斯坦的青年能夠為國家指出一條新路，那么他們就能改變這個國家的歷史軌跡。他向我們講述了在巴基斯坦因錯誤政策而導致的極端主義是怎樣愈演愈烈，怎樣對青年產生負面的影響。他領導的胡迪組織主要從事有關國民教育、憲法規定的文化水平和極端主義方面的事件、研討會和會議組織及平臺搭建工作。“由于沖突和極端主義的影響，我們社會的整個生態系統岌岌可危，所以我們想要通過組織會議、研討會和培訓向青年解構分析關于極端主義的演說。”拉瓦茨還提到了該組織在消滅極端主義對社會造成的惡劣影響方面所做出的努力。

在印度和巴基斯坦，還有數百個類似于Progressive Vellore、印度青年氣候網絡、Shirkat Gah和胡迪這樣的組織在兩國同時運作，他們都研究具體的青年問題和總體的社會問題。在這樣的發展中國家，活力四射的青年是國家和平和可持續發展的關鍵，并且這種可持續發展必須具備安全的生態環境和怡人的氣候。這一切都需要青年領導的各種組織聯合發力，讓青年人從社會各個角落聚集起來，并且引發當地、省區和國家的關注，促成他們在這些問題上的共識。這樣便能向政府施壓，讓政府針對這些問題制定更好的政策，采取更好的行動。毫無疑問，青年是印度和巴基斯坦的未來，只要青年人能團結起來共同努力就很容易有所作為，他們能夠改變兩國的命運。與此同時，還能在適應和緩解全球氣候的行動中發揮作用。