If you live in Pakistan, you already know how crazy and unpredictable the weather has become. Some days, stepping outside seriously feels like walking straight into a burning oven. Other days, your whole feed is full of videos of villages completely underwater. And the scariest part? This isn’t happening “somewhere far away.” This is our country, our people, and honestly… our generation taking the hit and loses.
I used to think climate change was something adults talked about on the news. But now, every heatwave, every flood, every power outrage feels like a reminder that it’s here and it’s real, and teens like us are living right in the middle of it.
Image Credit: Chris LeBoutillier from unsplash
Pakistan’s Reality and Why It Feels Unfair
Here’s the part that always gets me and makes me amazed. Pakistan barely contributes 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, yet we are one of the most climate affected countries in the world. Like… how does that make sense?
Our whole landscape, from glaciers up north to deserts in the south, reacts super quickly to temperature changes. One place is melting, another place is drying up, and the weather switches moods faster than anything else.
We’ve Seen the Warning Signs
Let’s be honest and have a reality check that signs aren’t subtle anymore. Temperature hitting above 50 degree celsius in some areas, schools closing because it’s too hot to sit in a classroom, people shutting down their shops, making normal daily life feel almost unlivable. This vulnerable condition doesn’t end up here, the floods have been just as devastating . The 2022 floods still haunt people and now in 2025, it feels like we’re reliving and unfolding the same destruction again. Whole towns vanished underwater. Families lost everything, homes, memories, stability. I still remember a video of shop items floating away, and the owner just stood there helpless. That scene stayed with me.
Image Credit: Chris Gallagher from unsplash
And It’s Not Just Pakistan
Sometimes we feel alone in this, but we are not. Teens all over the world are dealing with climate chaos:
- Bangladesh faces cyclones almost every year.
- In the Philippines, schools shut down for weeks because of flooding.
- Small islands like Fiji are literally sinking.
- African countries like Nigeria struggle with deadly heat and water shortages.
The Water Crisis Hits Harder than People Think:
Our water situation is horrifying, glaciers are melting way too fast, which causes sudden flash floods and bringing infections, now and long dry seasons later. Groundwater is disappearing too, and since so many Pakistani families depend on farming, the impact is huge. No water means, no crops, if not producing crops means no income and this will overall give us a huge economic instability. It’s a chain reaction that affects everyone in some way.
Climate Change Hurts People, Not Just Land
This isn’t just about the environment, it’s about the people living in that. Kids fainting in the heat. Daily wage workers risk their lives because they can’t afford to take a day off. Flood survivors battling diseases and loss. Students missing school because of heat, rain, or displacement. It’s exhausting and honestly, it’s heartbreaking.
So… Why Should Teens Care? Because It’s Our Future
Pakistan is a super young country, most of the people are under 30. That means whatever climate looks like in the next decade… we are the one who will live through it. That’s why our voice matters the most.
And no, we don’t have to become scientists or activists, but to be a responsible citizen to make a difference. Small steps count:
- Joining school climate clubs
- Talking about it online (Taking part in seminars, webinars etc)
- Supporting sustainable habits
- Helping in local cleanups
- Educating younger kids
- Planting trees (even if it sounds cliche, it still helps)
One person feels small, but millions of small actions can actually change something because it’s all about a positive mindset and the power of one’s actions.
Image credit: Ra Dragon from Unspalsh
The Truth? We Don’t Have Time to Ignore This.
Pakistan is stuck in a rough cycle, low emissions but insanely high climate risks. And every year, things get a little more unpredictable. If we keep thinking, “Oh, someone else will fix it,” nothing will change.
Our voices matter. Our actions matter. And honestly… if we don’t care now, we will we had cared sooner.
Climate change is real. It’s here. And it’s hitting our generation the hardest. But that also means we are the generation that can still do something about it.