Earth Rights
The Earth too has rights – rights to breathe, to regenerate, and to exist in balance. Yet, in our relentless pursuit of growth, these rights are being trampled upon. Forests are disappearing, rivers are drying, glaciers are melting, and the air we breathe is thickening with toxins. The consequences have become undeniable in the form of climate change – a global crisis that respects no borders. While its impact is universal, Pakistan stands among the world’s most vulnerable nations, facing recurring floods, droughts, heatwaves, and soil degradation that continue to threaten lives and livelihoods.
The floods of recent years – particularly this year’s devastation – have once again reminded us that the stakes are no longer environmental – they are existential. Entire communities have been uprooted, millions displaced, and vital ecosystems destroyed. The cost of inaction grows heavier with each passing season.
Yet, amid this adversity lies an opportunity – to reclaim balance by recognizing that protecting the planet is not charity; it is justice. And justice begins with awareness and education. That belief inspired the Green Book initiative, conceived and authored by the Principal Adviser of the Nexus during his tenure as Secretary, School Education Department, South Punjab. Introduced in 2022, it was the first initiative of its kind in the world to teach Climate Change as a separate subject to school children. The book, written in an engaging, child-friendly style, connects young minds with nature, sustainability, and civic responsibility. Its global recognition by UNESCO, UNICEF, UNFPA, and KOICA reflects its far-reaching impact.
The Green Book proves that real change begins in classrooms – where the next generation learns not just to live on the Earth, but with it. The Nexus vows to continue this mission: to champion environmental justice, to inspire climate literacy, and to mobilize an entire nation – for in saving our planet, we ultimately save ourselves.
