As Pakistan endures record-breaking heatwaves, the urgency to rethink our urban and environmental landscapes has never been clearer. In this compelling thought piece, Momal Nawab outlines how deforestation, urban heat islands, and climate inaction are fueling a public health and environmental crisis. But amidst the crisis lies a simple, scalable solution: planting trees. From corporations and households to schools and youth-led campaigns, she argues that tree plantation is no longer just an act of environmentalism—it’s a strategy for survival and resilience in the face of climate change.

When climate change hit my home and our fields, destroying the standing crops, during the 2022 floods in Nowshera, it stopped being an abstract global issue – it became deeply personal. Like my family, countless others across Pakistan are facing the growing threat of extreme weather, which endangers not only livelihoods but our shared future. From scorched fields to submerged homes, farmers are on the frontlines of a crisis that demands more than policy responses; it calls for empathy, equity, and urgent climate-smart action rooted in resilience and collective responsibility. In this blog, Accountability Lab’s research intern, Momal Nawab, explores how climate-resilient farming, youth leadership, and inclusive policy reform can help shape a more sustainable future for Pakistan’s agriculture.