Islamabad: Over 100 young cyclists dressed in green took to the streets of the capital on Friday under the ‘Go Green Rally’, campaigning that there is no planet B. They requested policymakers in the country and around the world to change policies, not the climate.
Over 60 per cent of the participants were women.
The cycling race started from the Heinrich Boll Stiftung (HBS) office and moved through Embassy Road in G-6, to the front of Parliament House along Jinnah Avenue up to the F-8 roundabout, and returned to its base.
It was placed in the framework of global civil society activism and campaigns in the run up to the climate conference COP21, taking place in Paris early next month.
Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, the chief guest, said the youth needed to support implementation of environment and climate resilient policies.
MNA Asad Umar stated that any serious discussion about climate justice required a fundamental, social and ecological transformation.
Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Marvi Memon emphasised that it was important to include traditional knowledge of communities to ensure adaptation measures in a sustainable way.
HBS Country Director Marion Mueller, in her opening remarks, called on the youth to raise voice in support for environment.
She highlighted that Pakistan was among the most vulnerable countries in terms of impacts of climate change.
HBS Programme Coordinator Mome Saleem shared the purpose of organising the event, and mentioned that civil society needs to be united to push the climate agenda at the global level.
Shakeel Ramay from SDPI highlighted that youth needed to ensure that they and future generations were able to live in a clean and safe environment.
