LAHORE: The University of Lahore (UOL), in collaboration with the Environment Protection and Climate Change Department (EP&CCD), organised a climate dialogue titled “COP in My City: Dialogue, Consensus and Action” to engage students, policymakers and environmental experts in developing practical solutions to climate challenges and building a climate-resilient Lahore.

The event brought together Provincial Minister for Sports and Energy Faisal Ayub Khokhar, EP&CCD Secretary Silwat Saeed, and UOL Director of Sustainability and member of the university’s Board of Governors Ammara Awais, along with academics, environmental specialists and students.

Addressing the gathering, Khokhar called for a shift from reacting to environmental emergencies towards taking practical and preventive action. Highlighting Pakistan’s vulnerability to melting glaciers, rising sea levels and urban smog, he said government efforts alone could not address the scale of the climate crisis.

He emphasised the role of individual responsibility and youth participation in environmental protection, appreciating UOL students’ contributions and expressing his willingness to support youth-led initiatives.

“The new generation takes climate change seriously, which makes us happy,” he said, noting that even small individual actions could contribute to meaningful environmental improvements.

Saeed praised UOL’s sustainability initiatives and called for institutions to develop and share practical solutions to environmental challenges. Describing universities as laboratories for innovation and experimentation, she encouraged young people to explore new ideas and develop locally relevant responses to climate change.

She termed UOL’s efforts an important foundation for a shift in environmental governance. She also highlighted the department’s investment in environmental infrastructure and the establishment of a specialised Environmental Protection Force comprising trained professionals, including environmental engineers, environmental scientists and geographic information system (GIS) specialists.

Awais outlined the university’s sustainability initiatives, including the Hudiara Drain project, an ablution-water reuse system, a car-pooling application, the establishment of a six-kanal Miyawaki forest and the introduction of a specialised degree programme in climate change.

She also highlighted the contributions of UOL’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Ambassadors and the university-wide sustainability campaign. Referring to the university’s international sustainability rankings, she stressed the importance of institutional collaboration in advancing environmental protection and building a more resilient future for Pakistan. She also acknowledged the media’s role in highlighting environmental challenges and promoting their resolution.

During the event, guests visited exhibitions showcasing student-led projects from various faculties. The projects demonstrated how environmental challenges could inspire research and innovation across disciplines, featuring herbal personal-care products, sustainable textile dyes, GIS-based urban flood assessments, air-quality monitoring systems, wastewater treatment solutions, waste-to-resource technologies and smart irrigation systems.

The programme also featured a panel discussion involving Waqas Moosa, co-founder and chief executive officer of Hadron Solar; Dr Abdul-Sattar Nizami, director of the Sustainable Development Study Centre at Government College University, Lahore; Tariq Hussain, project director of the Strategic Planning and Implementation Unit of the Government of Punjab; Arjmand Qayyum Amjad, senior manager at WWF-Pakistan; Muhammad Sufyan, head of programmes at WaterAid Pakistan; Muhammad Mohsin, UOL SDGs Ambassador; and Saima Murtaza, team lead for advocacy and strategic communication at EP&CCD.

A poster competition held alongside the dialogue showcased research on plastic recycling, agricultural-waste conversion, lithium recovery from spent batteries, climate-related diseases, sustainable healthcare practices and plant biotechnology.

Entries were evaluated by judges from academia and industry on research quality, scientific merit, presentation and potential environmental or societal impact. The EP&CCD awarded cash prizes totalling Rs175,000 to winners of the poster competition and project exhibition.

The event concluded with the exchange of shields among participants and the distribution of certificates to students, reinforcing the university’s commitment to sustainability, environmental awareness and youth engagement in climate action.