Arjumand Bano Faisal

“Eighteen-year-old Greta Thunberg from Sweden has become a prominent spokesperson for

the fight against global climate change. Has her message been effective? What role can

Pakistani young people play in reducing the impact of global climate change?”

Climate change has been an ongoing problem with various insights. Some believe in it; some

still think it is a hoax. Through the years, scientists have been warning leaders and citizens of

the dangers of climate change. Alongside them, various NGOs and institutions have been

raised to help combat it. Well-established figures such as Pope Francis and James Hansen

have mobilized to claim the action. However, recently a certain Swedish girl single-handedly

started mass awareness and recognition of climate change. Her name was Greta thunberg.

To put it simply, the young activist's message has been effective, she has gained international

recognition and has made herself known to millions, associating climate change with her,

showcasing her influence. In 2018, Greta held her first school strike, skipping school to camp

outside the Swedish parliament, demanding politicians to take immediate climate action. What

had started as an individual student's demand for change has now grown into a global climate

strike, leading to her receiving recognition from the renowned Time magazine not once but

twice. Coined 'The Greta Thunberg Effect', essentially it is when households who have greater

familiarity with Greta Thunberg end up feeling more confident that by working with others they

can lessen climate change. Greta can make people feel empowered, by her confident speeches

and courageous actions. She makes people believe that change is possible, an example would

be when she challenges world leaders to make a change. Her campaigns often focus on
mobilizing students to take part in events such as climate strikes. Exemplifying social cohesion

when raising awareness on climate change, proving that anyone, even students can make a

difference. Her fame is not just within the youth, but from the elderly to even the president's

Greta has become a household name. Some, like Donald Trump, refuse to take her seriously

claiming that she "should work on her anger management", however, this only shows how far

her voice has reached and confirms her effective activism. That a Swedish girl could cause a

reaction from a world leader is not an easy feat.‘ The Greta effect’ has also made its way into

the businesses; organizations are taking a greater interest in climate action. Such as committing

to achieving environmental goals and aiming for sustainability when producing and distributing

products. For example, the world economies forum asked all companies attending its annual

meeting to commit to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Greta Thunberg and many experts preach about how vital individual action and youth

involvement are, so young Pakistani people can play a role in reducing the impact of climate

change. In terms of climate change, Pakistanis face extreme challenges such as melting

glaciers limiting freshwater availability, more floods, drought, decreases in crop yield, and air

pollution. Pakistan ranked in the top 10 most vulnerable countries impacted by climate change.

As a country where young people comprise 68 percent of the population, their voices are

valuable, the roles they follow can make a huge difference. Recently in 2019, thousands of

students in uniform marched across Pakistan heeding the call of teen activist Greta Thunberg to

take part in the largest; climate protest in history. It proves that the youth of Pakistan can band

together in harmony and that if these types of actions, can be taken further, their role in

reducing the impact of climate change can be much more effective. By pushing the government

to undertake policies such as reforestation and enabling renewable energy sources. The

dangers of climate change can decrease. The government and the people would have to make

climate change a priority. Due to the low literacy rate in Pakistan, not many are aware of or
have much knowledge on climate change although this can change. The youth of Pakistan can

help by discussing and reiterating the consequence of climate change. By doing this, people

can understand and therefore perform collective activism.

However, the fact that Pakistan is an underdeveloped third-world country can affect the ability of

the youth to take part in any role in helping combat climate change. A large portion of the

population around, 5.4 percent, live in poverty. That means that the majority do not have the

means to help or are not aware of the problem. But this does not mean it can completely stop

young Pakistanis from helping reduce the impacts of global warming. Many other developing

countries have issued policies to help combat climate change, proving that Pakistan can do the

same and even more. Those young individuals who are privileged should help spread

awareness on climate change. Teaching the underprivileged ways to contribute to protecting

the environment together, such as methods to reduce the amount of energy use.

Conclusively, Greta Thunberg is an inspiration that has caused changes in a lot of views of

climate change, becoming a household name. Advocating for our planet and its safety,

Thunberg has become an inspiration for many activists and youth alike. Her message has

increased the number of climate actions done by both individuals and organizations. For

Pakistani youth, who have a country that has dealt with many dire problems due to climate

change, her words are inspiring. Now they are more likely to join in climate change activism

fighting for a more sustainable planet.

Bibliography
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49918719

https://theconversation.com/greta-thunberg-effect-people-familiar-with-young-climate-activist-

may-be-more-likely-to-act-154146
https://www.spsp.org/news-center/blog/sabherwal-van-der-linden-swim-greta-thunberg-effect

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/greta-speech-our-house-is-still-on-fire-davos-2020/