Climate Governance Innovation Challenge 2024: Transforming Climate Governance Ideas into Action & Closing Ceremony of Youth Climate Education & Fellowship Program 2024
Venue: Business Incubation Center, University of Peshawar
Date: Thursday, January 09, 2025

On January 09, 2025, Transparency International Pakistan organized an inspiring Climate Governance Innovation Challenge. The climate governance innovation challenge aligned with the culmination of Youth Climate Education and Fellowship Program 2024, a joint collaboration between TI Pakistan and the University of Peshawar. The closing ceremony was attended by key stakeholders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, such as Mr. Afrsayab Khattak, Chief Environment and Climate Change, Planning and Development department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Ms. Farah Hamid Khan, Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commission KP, Mr. Saayad Saadat Jehan, Deputy Director Communications, Information Commission KP, Dr. Bushra Khan, Director, Planning and Development, University of Peshawar, Dr. Shakeel Khan, Director Business Incubation Centre, Mr. Asfandyar Khan, Assistant Professor, Department of  Tourism and Hospitality Management, Representatives from GIZ, 40 fellows and students form other departments, and journalists.

During the event, three standout innovative ideas were awarded cash prizes and certificates in recognition of their exceptional contributions to climate governance.

The innovation challenge was part of the Youth Climate Education and Fellowship Program 2024. The year-long fellowship began in February 2024 and aimed to enhance university students’ capacity to understand and address climate change challenges with 3 key objectives: educational enhancement, practical engagement and policy and advocacy.

The 40 fellows were selected from diverse departments including Environmental Sciences, Disaster Management, Zoology, Botany, Computer Science, Economics, Sociology and Tourism and Hospitality Management to participate in the Youth Climate Education and Fellowship program during the period April – December 2024. During the past eight months, TI Pakistan along with University of Peshawar organized a total of 07 sessions, bring different expertise on board to enhance the capacity of the fellows. The sessions covered diverse modules including climate governance, climate finance landscape in KP and Pakistan, environmental laws in Pakistan, social accountability tools and right to information, role of youth in climate action, running successful advocacy, mitigation strategies and adaptation techniques.

The closing ceremony of the fellowship was organized at University of Peshawar, commenced with the registration of the participants and recitation of Holy Quran. Dr. Shakeel Khan, Director of the Business Incubation Centre, on behalf of University of Peshawar expressed its gratitude to TI Pakistan for supporting this initiative, which encourages youth to shape climate policies and sustainable solutions. He emphasized that this initiative plays a vital role in equipping students with the knowledge and skills to address climate change challenges effectively, and promote climate education in academia.

Moving on, Ms. Fariha Fatima, Asst. Project Coordinator at TI Pakistan, presented an insightful overview of the year-long Youth Climate Education & Fellowship Program 2024. She emphasized the program’s core objectives and key milestones, including the completion of seven interactive sessions on crucial topics. Ms. Fatima shared that the provincial EPA offered internships to five fellows, allowing them to gain hands-on experience in climate change and climate finance while supporting the EPA’s work. She also highlighted that, some fellows attended COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, while others played a key role in organizing the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These experiences enhanced their understanding of stakeholder engagement and deepened their involvement in climate action.

Next, Ms. Nasreen Memon, Project Coordinator at TI Pakistan, shared that as part of the Climate Governance Integrity Programme, a Youth Climate Education and Fellowship Program will be launched in every province, with the University of Peshawar being the first to host this initiative. She emphasized that the goal is to build the capacity of youth and actively involve them in climate policymaking, empowering them to shape the future of climate governance.

Moving on, the Climate Governance Innovation Challenge officially commenced. As part of the challenge, fellows were tasked with forming groups of four, and a total of 12 presentations were delivered by both individual fellows and groups. These presentations were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges, including experts from the Provincial Planning and Development Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Commission, the University of Peshawar, and TI Pakistan. The panel consisted of:

• Afrsayab Khattak, Chief Environment and Climate Change, P&D, KP
• Saayad Saadat Jehan, Deputy Director Communications, KP Information Commission
• Mahrukh, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar
• Nasreen Memon, Project Coordinator, TI Pakistan

The participants showcased solutions for improving climate governance and enhancing climate finance landscape in KP. Some of the ideas were: Engaging Communities through a Digital Climate Action Portal in KP, Establishing the Carbon Footprint Assessment and Trading Platform, Turning Agricultural Waste into Products for Food Industry, Advancing Waste Management through Upcycling Education, Establishing KP Climate Data Observatory, Developing a Climate Financing Resource Hub and Creating “EcoCommute’ Platform to Optimize Commuting Patterns.

Among the standout ideas presented, three innovative projects were selected as winners for their innovative approach to climate governance and potential of implementing those idea in limited resources. The winning team was recognized for their approach to waste management, contribute to sustainability, reduce waste at the community level and minimize the environmental impact.

In addition to the winning team, two runner-up teams were awarded cash prizes and certificates for their innovative contributions to climate governance. Their ideas, including a Digital Climate Action Portal in KPK and Equipping Farmers with Climate-Resilient Practices, focus on local-level implementation to drive sustainable climate action and community engagement.

Moving on, Ms. Farah Hamid Khan, Chief Information Commissioner, Information Commission Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, delivered the keynote speech, commending the fellows for their innovative work. She emphasized that the Right to Information (RTI) is a powerful tool in accessing vital climate information, offering valuable support for research and innovation, particularly for students. She further highlighted that climate change is a complex issue where government action is insufficient without active community involvement. In this context, RTI plays a crucial role in empowering citizens, enabling them to hold authorities accountable and engage in meaningful climate action. She motivated the youth to make the maximum use of RTI and actively access climate-related information to promote transparency and drive informed climate action.

In the closing remarks, Mr. Afrsayab Khattak shared his remarks on the importance of climate education and the future of the environmental sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He expressed his appreciation for the innovative ideas presented by the students, noting that their passion and creativity are essential for driving impactful climate solutions. Mr. Khattak emphasized the potential of youth-led initiatives in shaping the future of climate governance and highlighted the need for collaboration between the government, academia, and communities to create lasting environmental change.

Towards the end, Certificates were distributed to the youth climate fellows, recognizing their contributions to climate action.