ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is taking steps for climate change studies to become a standard part of the school curriculum from the primary to university levels and training teachers to become key agents in creating awareness in young people, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam, said on Monday.

The United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization, UNESCO, has said environmental studies should be standard teaching in all countries by 2025.

Such studies are crucial for a country like Pakistan, one of the most vulnerable to climate change according to the Global Climate Risk Index. Floods in 2022, which scientists said were aggravated by global warming, affected at least 33 million people and killed more than 1,700. The country’s economic struggles and high debt burden impinged its ability to respond to the disaster.

 “Education is the cornerstone of sustainable development and climate action for a resilient and environmentally-sustainable society,” the PM’s climate aide said in a keynote address at an event on the sidelines of COP29 global Climate Summit, which is taking place from Nov. 11-22. 

“Our commitment to greening education stems from the belief that equipping our youth with climate knowledge is fundamental to achieving long-term resilience and sustainability.”

Outlining steps to mainstream climate education into the national education system, Alam said the government had developed educational modules tailored to build climate awareness from the primary to university levels. 

“These modules emphasize the science of climate change, its impacts, and actionable solutions, ensuring that students grow up with a sense of responsibility toward the environment,” the aide said. 

“These efforts also extend to training teachers as key change agents in this mission … Teachers across Pakistan are being equipped with the skills and tools to deliver climate education effectively … and community-based programs have been introduced to create broader awareness and engage parents, caregivers and local leaders in the process of greening education.

“By greening our education systems, we are equipping the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to address climate change and build a resilient future,” Alam added.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said last month Pakistan was targeting around $1 billion in a formal request for funding from the IMF facility that helps low and middle income countries mitigate climate risk.

The International Monetary Fund had already agreed a $7 billion bailout for Pakistan, but has further funding available via its Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST).

The RST, created in 2022, provides long-term concessional cash for climate-related spending, such as adaptation and transitioning to cleaner energy.

Pakistan is also in talks with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank for a credit enhancement for a planned Panda bond, Aurangzeb said. It is targeting an initial issuance of $200-250 million by the end of June.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who spoke at a number of events at COP29 last week, used the forum to highlight the need to restore confidence in the pledging process and increase climate finance for vulnerable, developing countries. He said developing countries would need an estimated $6.8 trillion by 2030 to implement less than half of their current nationally determined contributions (NDCs), or national action plans for reducing emissions and adapting to climate impacts defined by the Paris Agreement.

The main task for nearly 200 countries at the COP29 summit is to broker a deal that ensures up to trillions of dollars in financing for climate projects worldwide.

HOBART: Marcus Stoinis slammed five huge sixes in an unbeaten 61 as Australia crushed Pakistan by seven wickets in Hobart on Monday to secure a 3-0 T20 series whitewash.

Chasing a meagre 118, the hosts hit the target in the 12th over to hand Pakistan a reality check after the visitors won the preceding ODI series 2-1.

Stoinis was unstoppable once he got going, also blasting five fours in his 27-ball masterclass.

“It’s really nice to get another win and go 3-0 up,” said Australia skipper Josh Inglis.

“When he’s going like that, it’s really hard to stop,” he added of Stoinis. “One of those sixes was probably the biggest I’ve seen.”

The match at Bellerive Oval was a dead rubber after Australia won a rain-hit match in Brisbane by 29 runs and then in Sydney by 13 runs.

After opting to bat, Pakistan raced to 62-1 before crumbling to 117 all out in the 19th over with Babar Azam top-scoring on 41 and Aaron Hardie taking 3-21.

Jake Fraser-McGurk began the run chase with consecutive boundaries from Shaheen Shah Afridi before the speedster dismissed Matt Short for two, caught at mid-on by Irfan Khan.

Fraser-McGurk (18) followed next over, undone by the sheer pace of Jahandad Khan in another mis-fire by the 22-year-old.

But Inglis kept the scoreboard ticking over alongside Stoinis, who let rip in the ninth over, punishing Haris Rauf for 20, including a massive six that landed on the stadium roof.

Their 55-run partnership ended when Inglis scooped Abbas Afridi to Rauf on 27, which brought Tim David to the crease.

He was bystander to Stoinis, who brought up his fifth T20 half-century with another giant six before seeing them home.

“There’s lots of positives, the way some of the players batted and bowled, these youngsters will come good,” said Salman Agha, Pakistan’s skipper for the night with Mohammad Rizwan rested.

“It’s a big achievement for us to win a one-day series here after 22 years, we could have done better in the T20 series but we’ll come back stronger.”

Sahibzada Farhan opened the Pakistan batting with Azam in the absence of Rizwan.

But on a chilly evening, he lasted just seven balls before top-edging a short one from Spencer Johnson — fresh from taking five wickets in Sydney — to Xavier Bartlett.

Azam produced a series of elegant strokes as he and Haseebullah Khan put on a quickfire 44 for the second wicket.

But Kahn was no match for Adam Zampa’s spin, collecting an outside edge on 24 to Short.

Pakistan’s woes mounted with Usman Khan (3) caught on the ropes after slogging Hardie and Agha trapped lbw by the same bowler for one.

It left them reeling on 72-4 at the halfway mark and when Zampa bowled Azam and Khan (10) was needlessly run out they were in deep trouble.

Shaheen Shah Afridi blasted only six of the innings but didn’t last as the tailenders were mopped up.