Innovative models critical in equipping youth with green skills for climate resilience

Islamabad: The experts at the event ‘Rethinking Urban Development in Pakistan: Leveraging Youth’s Potential for Sustainable Cities’ said that innovative models such as the Green Urban Development School (GUDS) play a critical role in equipping youth with the green skills required to manage urbanisation in a nature-inclusive and climate-resilient manner.

The Institute of Urbanism (IoU) and School of Leadership Foundation (SoLF) with the support of the US Embassy Islamabad launched the pilot GUDS programme at two universities i.e. Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) and Comsats University Islamabad, which enhanced knowledge of participants through mentorship, exposure visits and cross-learning opportunities with experts from DePaul University, Chicago, a news release said.

The GUDS is also providing technical and financial support to two students from each university to practically set up their action research projects that lead to green start-ups, thus, empowering youth to spearhead the transition to a sustainable future. As the GUDS programme was piloted at QAU in 2023, two grant winners have already set up their projects i.e. a composting facility and a sustainable rooftop set-up consisting of rainwater harvesting and hydroponic farm.

Addressing participants at the concluding event of GUDS, Kelly Ryan, representing the US Embassy Islamabad said, ‘through programs like the Green Urban Development School, our aim is to encourage exchange of knowledge and collaboration to collectively address the challenge of climate change’. Mariyam Irfan, Managing Director of the School of Leadership Foundation (SoLF), remarked. Dr. Ejaz Ahmad, Senior Program Fellow, IoU emphasised the need to reshape urban development paradigms through strategic partnerships, collaborative efforts, development of green skills, and equitable transitions. Marfaa Naseem, the GUDS grant winner from QAU, said that she has harvested 48,000 litres of rainwater since installing the system in January 2024, saving around Rs12,000 compared to tanker fees.