Islamabad : “Matti ka Qarz: Climate Change & Literature”had the honor of speaking at the 2nd Youth Literature Festival, hosted by the Pakistan Academy of Letters, in an exclusive session on Climate Change & Literature.
Prof. Dr. Najeeba Arif (Chairperson), Sultan Nasir (Director General), and their remarkable team did a phenomenal job in organizing one of the finest youth festivals in the country their vision, hospitality, and commitment turned it into a true celebration of literature, ideas, and youth energy – where even critical issues like climate change found a powerful voice through poetry, prose, and dialogue…
Because literature is not just reflection — it can be resistance. Let our words rise as action against climate change…
The session was vibrant, with scholars, writers, and passionate youth engaging deeply. Together, we explored how climate literacy and literature are not luxuries anymore — they are skills for survival…
Some truths we cannot ignore:
- Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global greenhouse gases, yet ranks among the Top 10 most climate-vulnerable countries.
The 2022 floods displaced 33+ million people, costing us $30+ billion.
In just two months, cloudbursts and flash floods in KP, AJK & GB have killed over 550 people.
Our forest cover has shrunk by 18% in three decades, stripping us of natural protection against disasters.
But here’s where literature steps in:
Poets, fictionists, dramatists, and storytellers can amplify the climate crisis in ways science alone cannot.
Through verse, prose, and drama, literature can make invisible suffering visible, transform apathy into empathy, and mobilize communities into action.
Just as Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring sparked a global environmental movement, our writers can ignite a Pakistani climate renaissance.
The message is clear: Words are weapons. Narratives are power. And our literati — poets, novelists, dramatists, and artists — hold the pen that can write survival into our future.
The youth left not only more informed, but also more determined ready to become climate storytellers, using their creativity and conscience to fight for a climate-secure Pakistan…
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
