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Aitzaz Roonjha: The Young Voice of Climate Resilience in Pakistan
Meet Aitzaz! One of Young Advisors for the Youth Climate Justice project who dedicates his time to climate action and community development in Pakistan.
“Aitzaz!” That’s what my family always called me, a name that carried with it dreams and stories from the small village of Bela, Lasbela, Balochistan. I am Aitzaz Ahmad, a 17-year-old from Pakistan, and my journey from a curious child to a dedicated climate activist, researcher, and writer has been transformative.
Up until 2021, climate change was just a term in my textbooks, a concept I understood only superficially. However, everything changed in 2022 when a devastating flood struck many areas of Pakistan, including my district, Lasbela. The disaster leftover 17,566 schools destroyed, claimed at least 1,739 lives, and damaged more than 8,000 miles (approximately 13,000 kilometers) of roads across Pakistan. This catastrophe made it clear that climate change was not just an abstract concept but a pressing reality impacting millions.
Amidst this crisis, I found a new purpose. Alongside my academic pursuits, I began volunteering with youth organization - Welfare Association for a New Generation (WANG), a local organization in Lasbela focused on climate actions and community development.
In 2022, I became actively involved in the rescue, relief, and rehabilitation efforts of WANG, assisting flood-affected communities in various villages. We organized fundraisers, sought assistance from donors, and delivered food, medical camps, and other essential supplies to those in need. Seeing the fear and helplessness in the eyes of children during the flood was heartbreaking. As always, children are the most vulnerable and affected by any kind of human or natural disaster. During these efforts, I also conducted interactive engagement sessions for children to provide them with a sense of hope amidst this traumatic crisis.
The issue with communities like ours is that poverty often spans multiple generations, making it difficult to break the cycle. Agriculture and livestock farming are key sources of income; a successful crop can enable families to keep their children in school and improve mothers’ health. However, disasters like the floods of 2022 can devastate these opportunities, pushing families back into deep poverty.
Even though Pakistan produces only about 0.9% of the world’s greenhouse gasses, we are still one of the top 10 countries most at risk from climate change. To address the immediate needs, we managed to provide 50 houses to families who lost their homes, thanks to the support of generous individuals. This experience reinforced the importance of climate awareness, prompting me to engage in numerous climate education sessions.
While I have been a dedicated community volunteer, I always felt the need to contribute at the policy level to showcase to policymakers the harsh realities faced by communities, particularly children and girls in rural areas. In 2023, I had the opportunity to participate in a four-day bootcamp organized by the School of Leadership Foundation in collaboration with UNICEF. This policy research challenge on climate adaptation provided me with a grant opportunity. With this funding, I conducted a two-month research project titled “Impact of Climate Change-Induced Flood on Girls’ Primary Education in Lasbela.” I visited flood-affected schools and villages, collected data on school dropouts among girls, held stakeholder meetings, and developed a comprehensive research document. My findings included policy recommendations aimed at mitigating the impact of climate change on education.
This experience helped me understand the dynamics of societies and how natural disasters affect different groups in various ways. It highlighted that one solution does not fit all and deepened my understanding of systemic challenges within our systems, such as gender biases, mobility issues, the impact of climate on education, and violence against women due to climate change.
My experiences with the floods and my work in climate activism have shown me the importance of fighting against climate change. I’ve seen the real impact it has on people’s lives and know that we need to keep working together to make a difference. I’m committed to continuing my efforts to help those in need and to spread awareness about climate issues. Every small step we take can help build a better future for everyone.
References :
Climate change Impact on education
Devastating floods in Pakistan
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in pakistan