Strengthening Local Climate Leadership: Evaluating a Community-Based Empowerment Initiative

Pirah Siyal; Sundas Siyal

doi:10.52428/27888991.v7i11.1476

Authors

Pirah Siyal Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Department Government of Sindh, Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2174-459X
Sundas Siyal Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52428/27888991.v7i11.1476

Keywords:

climate leadership; women empowerment; youth engagement; green entrepreneurship; sustainable development; Sindh; environmental education

Abstract

Women and youth play a critical role in advancing local climate action and sustainability, particularly in vulnerable regions such as Sindh, Pakistan. This study evaluates the outcomes of two Green Earth Action Day Foundation (GEAF) climate leadership sessions conducted across eight schools and five communities, engaging 450 women and 350 youth. The purpose of the project was to enhance climate knowledge, promote green entrepreneurship, and strengthen environmental stewardship through community-driven initiatives. Methods included structured workshops, pre- and post-surveys, hands-on sustainability activities, and leadership mentoring. The results demonstrate significant increases in climate knowledge (average 62% improvement), sustainable behavior adoption (45% increase), and willingness to participate in green entrepreneurship (58%). A total of 18 climate-focused activities were completed, including awareness drives, tree plantation, recycling actions, and water conservation demonstrations. Schools and communities reported noticeable improvements in climate awareness and engagement among participants. These findings highlight the importance of inclusive, locally tailored interventions that empower women and youth as environmental leaders. The study concludes that gender-inclusive climate leadership models can generate measurable social, behavioral, and ecological impact, and can be successfully replicated in other regions.

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