Islamabad: Sonam Wangchuk, a notable climate change advocate from Ladakh, recently attended the 'Breathe Pakistan' climate change conference in Islamabad. This event was organized by the ‘Dawn Media’ group to raise awareness about climate change in Pakistan.

He participated in the panel discussion called ‘Glacial Melt: A Sustainable Strategy for the Water Towers of South Asia,’ where he presented his thoughts on potential actions in the high Himalayas.

Wangchuk's Speech At 'Breathe Pakistan'

Wangchuk starts his speech by stating that he has consistently urged individuals from urban areas to embrace simplicity so that "we in the mountains can simply live."

Sonam Wangchuk expressed, “Our message to the world always has been please live simply in the big cities so that we in the mountains simply live. And this message needs to reach the whole world and I am so happy that media and leadership have a great role to play."

“In Pakistan, I see Dawn Media is taking that responsibility as a champion of environment. I wish all countries and in my country and media house really take this responsibility like here,” he had stated during the ‘Breathe Pakistan’ conference.

Wangchuk discussed leadership and its ability to shape the world. Some world leaders may deny the existence of climate change, yet they commend PM Modi for launching the initiative titled 'Mission Life,' which encourages individuals to embrace a simpler lifestyle, emphasizing that this is the type of leadership we anticipate from global leaders, media, and celebrities "so we have a safer place to live in the mountains."

Wangchuk was observed expressing support for the UN's glacier initiative, The International Year of Glaciers' Preservation (IYGP), officially declared in December 2022. The project seeks to increase awareness about the significance of glaciers and the necessity of their preservation, expressing that this initiative provides him with hope that "we will live, survive and thrive in the mountains."

Who Is Sonam Wangchuk?

Sonam Wangchuk is an Indian engineer, innovator and education reformist. He is the founding-director of the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh, which was founded in 1988 by a group of students who had been in his own words, the 'victims' of an alien education system foisted on Ladakh.

Wangchuk gained global recognition for his climate protest in Ladakh, where he went on a 21-day fast at 11,500 feet to raise awareness about the melting of glaciers in the Himalayas. His efforts have been instrumental in highlighting the impact of climate change on the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas.

About 'Breathe Pakistan' Climate Change Conference

The Breathe Pakistan conference, where Wangchuk spoke, brought together experts and leaders to discuss solutions to climate change. The conference was part of Dawn Media's initiative to create awareness about climate change in Pakistan. With Wangchuk's message resonating across the globe, it's clear that collective action is necessary to mitigate the effects of climate change.