Closing Ceremony & Innovation Challenge
Youth Climate Education & Fellowship Program 2025
Transforming Climate Governance Ideas into Action
Venue: Seminar Hall, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Lahore
Date: December 29, 2025

Transparency International Pakistan in collaboration with the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore, organized the Closing Ceremony and Climate Governance Innovation Challenge of the Youth Climate Education & Fellowship Program 2025. The event marked the conclusion of a nine-month long fellowship program launched by TI Pakistan in collaboration with UET University on April 16, 2025.

The closing ceremony brought together university faculty members, approximately 190 students (Male 110, Female 80) including 40 Youth Climate Fellows and representatives from the Chief Minister Punjab Green Credit Program, Environment and Climate Change Department, Government of Punjab, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Over the course of nine months, TI Pakistan and UET Lahore conducted six structured learning sessions covering critical themes, including climate governance, climate finance, carbon markets, youth leadership for advocacy, social accountability mechanisms, right-to-information laws, and youth participation in climate action. The sessions not only strengthened the fellows’ understanding of governance frameworks but also equipped them with practical skills to address climate-related challenges.

The closing ceremony commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran. Dr.-Ing. Izzat Iqbal Cheema, Director of the Continuing Engineering Education & Training Centre (CEETC), UET Lahore, welcomed the participants and expressed appreciation for TI Pakistan and highlighted the fellowship’s role in empowering youth, advancing climate education, and promoting youth participation in climate decision-making.

Ms. Nasreen Memon, Project Coordinator, TI Pakistan, presented a comprehensive overview of the fellowship program. She outlined its objectives, learning modules, key milestones, and achievements. She emphasized that the Climate Governance Innovation Challenge 2025 aims to enable fellows to translate theoretical knowledge into practical, action-oriented solutions for improving integrity, climate governance and youth participation in climate action.

Following this, Dr. Muhammad Amanullah, Project Manager, UNDP Punjab shared about UNDP’s work in Pakistan. He highlighted that youth play a key role in climate action but face challenges such as limited funding, unemployment, and low representation in decision-making. He informed the students about UNDP’s programs supporting young people, strengthening leadership, learning, innovation, and opportunities to scale their ideas. In this regard, he shared key UNDP initiatives such as Youth4Climate, the Climate Champions Fellowship, and Youth Climate Ambassador Clubs. Tools such as SparkBlue and the Climate Dictionary were also shared, helping fellows understand available resources, funding, mentorship, and networks to grow and scale their climate projects effectively.

Next, the cohort of fellows under the program showcased creative, solution-oriented ideas on climate action in Punjab and Pakistan. In total 10 groups gave presentations covering topics such as Youth Climate Action System for Industrial CO₂ Capture; Green Track: An integrity-driven climate governance model that links transparency, citizen participation, and incentives to deliver verifiable environmental outcomes; Building Climate Resilient Infrastructure in Punjab: Local Innovation Transparent Governance & Youth Action; Accessing Climate Finance: Role of Youth in Developing Innovative Ideas and Projects; A Solar Powered Hybrid Air Purification Panel for Urban Smog Control in Pakistan; AI-Based Climate Complaint & Accountability System & Agricultural Improvement; Youth leadership in building climate resilience in Pakistan.

The Youth Climate Fellows presentations were evaluated by a panel of judges representing government stakeholders, university and TI Pakistan. The judges included: Ms. Rizwana Anjum, Team Lead, Chief Minister Punjab Green Credit Program; Ms. Ahad Yousaf Khan, Director, Environment and Climate Change Department, Government of Punjab; Dr.-Ing. Izzat Iqbal Cheema, Director, CEETC, UET Lahore; and Ms. Nasreen Memon, Project Coordinator, TI Pakistan.

Among the ideas that stood out included:

• Accessing Climate Finance: Role of Youth in Developing Innovative Ideas and Projects
• AI-Based Climate Complaint & Accountability System
• A Solar-Powered Hybrid Air Purification Panel for Urban Smog Control in Pakistan

In addition to the winning team, two runner-up teams were awarded cash prizes and certificates for their innovative contributions to climate governance. The judges representing the provincial government encouraged the youth fellows to share their innovative ideas and presentations with the government and explore opportunities for additional research and funding support. They appreciated the initiative of TI Pakistan for training young people on critical issues around climate governance, finance transparency and youth participation.

Towards the end, Prof. Dr. Shahid Munir, Vice Chancellor, UET Lahore congratulated the Youth Fellows and TI Pakistan. He acknowledged the significance of youth-led innovation in addressing climate challenges and appreciated TI Pakistan’s efforts in integrating governance, integrity, and accountability into climate education initiatives. The Vice Chancellor also gave certificates to the fellows recognizing their contributions to climate action.