Climate minister urges youth-led green investment at Breathe Pakistan conference

ISLAMABAD – Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik has called for greater investment in youth-led climate initiatives, urging investors and stakeholders to actively support young innovators working on environmental solutions. Speaking at the second edition of the Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference in Islamabad, organised by a local media organization, the minister said that meaningful climate solutions must be driven by young people. “Come to the table, listen to these guys, and if it makes sense, give them money,” he said, stressing the importance of empowering youth-led projects. He added that climate responses should be “from the youth and for the youth,” highlighting the need to move beyond discussions and translate ideas into actionable projects. Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Pakistan remains among the most climate-vulnerable countries, making coordinated and locally grounded responses essential. The two-day conference has brought together policymakers, experts, and stakeholders to discuss climate finance, renewable energy, disaster risk reduction, and inclusive public-private partnerships. In his concluding remarks, Musadik Malik acknowledged a gap between discussions and ground realities. “Conversations do not save people. Conversations do not improve air quality. Something real has to happen between all of these billions and billions of dollars of conversations and the reality that I’m struck with when I go to Gilgit-Baltistan,” he said. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, also addressing the session, emphasized the importance of macroeconomic stability, describing it as essential as “basic hygiene.” Referring to the 2022 and 2025 floods, he noted that the recent floods were far more intense, affecting multiple river systems and large parts of the country. He said the government opted not to seek international emergency funding, citing available fiscal space. “Let’s first use the funds which ar