Fourth Monthly Meeting of Youth Climate Education and Fellowship Programme 2024: Climate Action through Governance: Youth, Social Accountability and Right to Information
Day & Date: Monday, September 23, 2024
Venue: Business Incubation Centre, University of Peshawar

Transparency International Pakistan in collaboration with University of Peshawar organized fourth monthly meeting of Youth Climate Education and Fellowship Programme 2024, at Business Incubation Centre, University of Peshawar. The meeting, titled, “Climate Action through Governance: Youth, Social Accountability and Right to Information” was attended by youth fellows, university faculty and journalists.

The session was conducted by Mr. Muhammad Anwar, Governance Expert and the session covered 3 modules Climate Governance, Social Accountability, and Right to Information.

Mr. Muhammad Anwar discussed the concept of Climate Governance, emphasizing the importance of coordinated actions at local, national, and international levels to tackle climate change. He highlighted Pakistan’s climate policies, including the National Climate Change Policy and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Climate Change Policy 2022, which focus on mitigating impacts, adaptation strategies, and building resilience. Mr. Anwar explained the challenges faced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, such as rising temperatures, glacial melt, and changing rainfall patterns. The Climate Change Act 2017 and the establishment of the Climate Change Authority were also discussed as key legislative actions. He pointed out the gaps in policy implementation, including the lack of coordination and resources, and emphasized the importance of youth engagement in addressing these challenges through innovation, education, and local empowerment.

Mr. Anwar highlighted that social accountability is a critical tool for ensuring transparency and participation in climate action. He explained how social accountability holds institutions responsible for their decisions and promotes inclusive policies. He covered tools like public consultations, social audits, and community-led monitoring that engage citizens in the decision-making process. The module also discussed how mechanisms like finance dashboards, whistleblowing, and Right to Information (RTI) laws enhance accountability. Social accountability not only strengthens trust among stakeholders but also ensures that marginalized communities are included in climate solutions, ultimately accelerating progress toward more effective and just climate governance.

Mr. Anwar also introduced the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act 2013, which was the first of its kind in Pakistan and aims to ensure that citizens have access to important information regarding government activities, including policies, budget allocations, procurement processes, and public services. He explained the process of writing an RTI request and the timelines for receiving responses. The module also covered the Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Act 2016, which was established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to protect individuals who expose corruption and wrongdoing.

Each of these modules provided valuable insights into the legal frameworks, policies, and tools needed to address climate challenges, ensure transparency, and empower citizens in the process of governance.