CHITRAL: Students showcased the impact of climate change on mountain communities through artwork during an event held on Wednesday to mark the International Mountain Day in Chitral, which is a climate vulnerable region.

UNDP Pakistan’s Scaling-up of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Risk Reduction in Northern Pakistan Project (Glof-II) organised the event.

Aligning with this year’s theme, “mountain solutions for a sustainable future – innovation, adaptation, and youth”, the event brought together students from seven government and private schools, government officials, academia, and climate change enthusiasts.

“The event provided us with an opportunity to display our artwork, and we also learned about the various mountain ranges and peaks in Chitral, which I am excited to share with my friends,” says Fatima, a student of Government High School for Girls, Chitral.

Another key feature of the event was a session on adventure tourism by a Chitral-based youth mountaineering and trekking group. The group displayed mountaineering gear and equipment for the audience, emphasising the region’s potential for adventure tourism.

“Chitral is blessed with a beautiful landscape and is home to Terich Mir, the highest mountain of the Hindu Kush range. However, due to lack of infrastructure development and minimal media coverage, it remains largely unexplored by tourists and mountaineers,” said one of the expert panelists at the event.

Other panelists urged the youth to become champions for climate action and play an active role in educating their communities about the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and livelihoods.

The event concluded with an awareness walk along Chitral Town’s main road.

Published in Dawn, December 12th, 2024