26/08/2026
3 Days PMYDC Regional Youth Climate Summit 2026 Turns Youth Research into Low-Cost Climate Solutions
Khanaspur, Galiyat - The PMYDC Regional Youth Climate Summit 2026, organized by IM|Sciences in collaboration with Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Directorate of Youth Affairs KP, Peshawar, Pakistan Development Foundation and Broadify Digital brought together 45 young participants from YDC & GYM Club of IM|Sciences and GYM Club of SBBWUP for a three-day summit focused on research, teamwork, climate learning and the development of practical, low-budget solutions to local environmental challenges.
Designed as a platform for the new generation of climate-conscious leaders, the summit moved beyond conventional discussions about climate change. Through team collaboration and field research, young participants were encouraged to identify real problems in their communities, understand their social and economic dimensions, and then develop practical solutions that could be implemented with limited financial resources.
As part of the field research, participants worked in teams along the Pipeline Track and Ayubia Bazar, engaging with local conditions and stakeholders to identify key environmental challenges. The research covered issues including waste management and plastic waste, water scarcity and water recharge, tourism-related environmental pressures, deforestation, and changing weather and environmental conditions.
The three-day programme combined field research with expert sessions and collaborative solution-building. Dr. Waseef Jamal addressed climate leadership and disaster risk reduction, while Mr. Mukhtar Ahmed explored the relationship between poverty and climate-related social and economic shocks. Mr. Bilal Sethi discussed climate justice, unequal responsibility and climate finance, while Mrs. Zainab Fida focused on water scarcity, groundwater recharge, rainwater harvesting and community-based water management.
The Director Youth Affairs KP, while expressing his thoughts said that: “This summit proves that when we empower our youth, they don't just talk about climate change — they go to the ground and create practical, low-cost solutions for their communities. Together through institutional collaborations, we can build climate-conscious leadership and a sustainable future for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Directorate of Youth Affairs KP remains committed to providing platforms where young people can turn their ideas into real action for a greener and more resilient KP”.
Dr. Waseef Jamal, Chief Organizer of the PMYDC Regional Youth Climate Summit 2026, while addressing the audience said: “Our vision for this summit was simple yet ambitious — to transform young people from passive observers of the climate crisis into active problem-solvers within their own communities. Climate leadership is not built in lecture halls alone. By taking our participants to the Pipeline Track and Ayubia Bazar, we wanted them to see, hear and understand the environmental challenges as they exist on the ground — and the results speak for themselves. This summit is part of a larger journey. The research, ideas and partnerships built over these three days will continue to grow — and we are committed to supporting these young climate leaders as they carry this work forward. I am grateful to our partner institutions, speakers and the Directorate of Youth Affairs KP for believing in the potential of youth-led climate action. The energy we witnessed in Khanaspur gives me great hope for the future."
Ms. Sehrish Zaffar, Deputy Registrar, SBBWUP led her team and also served as a judge for the Climate Innovation Lab, where youth teams presented their proposed solutions.
Speaking about the summit, she said that “It was truly encouraging to see young people move beyond discussion and engage directly with communities to understand climate challenges at the grassroots level.The quality of research and the creativity of the low-cost solutions presented at the Climate Innovation Lab exceeded our expectations. These young minds have shown that meaningful climate action does not always require large budgets — it requires commitment and innovation. The collaboration between IM|Sciences and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University reflects the power of institutional partnerships in nurturing climate-conscious leadership among youth.I was particularly impressed by the participants' teamwork and their ability to connect social and economic realities with environmental challenges. This summit has planted seeds — both literally and figuratively — for a more sustainable future."
The summit placed particular emphasis on teamwork and collaborative problem-solving. Following their field research and learning sessions, the five groups developed proposals addressing the issues they had identified. Rather than relying on high-cost interventions, participants were encouraged to think creatively about zero-to-very-low-budget and resource-efficient approaches that could produce meaningful results at the community level.
This approach was demonstrated by the Group, led by Ms. Kashmala Amin, which won the Climate Innovation Lab pitching session. Based on interviews with waste workers, the group identified continued waste-collection challenges associated with changing weather conditions, increased tourist activity and improper waste disposal. Its proposed solution was the introduction of waste-vending machines to encourage people to deposit plastic bottles and other recyclable materials. The collected materials could then be connected with eco-friendly businesses, with revenue generated through recycling reinvested into expanding the initiative.
The innovation component of the summit therefore connected research with action: participants first identified local problems, worked collectively to understand their causes and impacts, and then proposed practical interventions designed around affordability, community participation and measurable outcomes.
The summit concluded with a cleanliness drive and seed dispersion, giving participants an opportunity to put their environmental learning into direct practice. Certificates were also distributed during the closing programme.
Overall, the PMYDC Regional Youth Climate Summit 2026 provided a platform for young people to move from learning about climate challenges to researching, discussing and designing solutions for them. By combining field research, expert knowledge, teamwork and
low-cost innovation, the three-day summit demonstrated how the next generation can contribute practical ideas to environmental challenges without depending solely on large-scale or expensive interventions.
IMSciences Peshawar
Media Club - IMSciences
Prime Minister’s Youth Programme
Directorate of Youth Affairs KP
Club SBBWUP
IMSCIENCES
Prime Minister's Office of Pakistan
FLP Communications
Pakistan Development Foundation - PDF
Green Youth Movement-SBBWU
