Mainstreaming Climate Change

The University of Kassel, in collaboration with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), implemented a project aimed at strengthening climate education in Pakistan’s higher education sector. Around the world, universities play a critical role in advancing a sustainable future by equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to address the challenges of climate change. However, many institutions in developing countries, including Pakistan, face significant barriers in doing so due to limited resources, institutional capacity, and access to updated climate knowledge.

Through this project, Uni-Kassel and PIK supported Pakistani universities and research institutions in translating cutting-edge climate knowledge into locally relevant educational content. The project focused on developing and integrating relevant, climate-specific modules into undergraduate and graduate programs. It also fostered collaboration and mutual learning through joint networking and capacity-building activities with faculty members and researchers. The project has trained over 100 higher education professionals in Pakistan on critical topics such as climate finance, gender and climate change, and climate policy. The project concluded in April 2025, leaving behind a strengthened foundation for climate literacy and academic collaboration between Germany and Pakistan.

----

Globally, higher education institutions contribute to a sustainable future by equipping younger generations with the knowledge and skills to address climate challenges. However, developing countries, such as Pakistan, lack the resources and capacity to adapt and mitigate climate change vulnerabilities, resulting in a declining state of climate education. Together with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Uni-Kassel is supporting higher education and research institutions in Pakistan to translate cutting-edge knowledge and resources on climate education in order to strengthen Pakistan's climate literacy. The overarching objective of the project is to develop and integrate relevant and updated climate-specific modules into undergraduate and graduate programs through joint networking and capacity-building activities with faculty members and researchers. The project also intends to build the capacity of Pakistani researchers and academics to access German and European funding in the field of climate change research.