Keep the air clean
Photo credit: Ayisha Siddiqa Instagram
Tanvir Usman, Gulf Today
In a world where climate change is increasingly becoming a pressing concern, Ayisha Siddiqa has emerged as a leading voice for environmental sustainability and human rights.
The 24-year-old Pakistani activist has been named as one of TIME’s Women of the Year 2023, an honour that recognises her tireless efforts to raise awareness about climate change and its impact on vulnerable communities.
Siddiqa’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable, as she has used her platform to not only shed light on the urgent need for action but also to inspire a generation to take up the fight for a better tomorrow.
She has joined the likes of Angela Bassett, Cate Blanchett and Phoebe Bridgers in receiving this prestigious award.
Siddiqa’s passion for climate activism was ignited when she launched her university’s branch of extinction rebellion in May 2019.
Since then, she has been actively involved in various climate change movements, including the founding of Polluters Out with Isabella Fallahi and Helena Gualinga in response to the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Siddiqa’s perspective on climate change is shaped by her upbringing in a tribal community in Pakistan.
“The wounded world is so beautiful because she keeps producing life,” Siddiqa said in a recent interview. “And my work is in defence of life. By default, it’s defence of the rights of women. Therefore, it’s also by default human rights.” This belief in the interconnectedness of human rights and environmental protection is at the core of Siddiqa’s activism.
Last year, Siddiqa witnessed the devastating effects of Pakistan’s floods, which she believes were made more extreme by global warming. She turned her grief into poetry as a form of protest, hoping to bring “humanity back into the staid, high-level conversations that increasingly occupy her time.”
Siddiqa’s passion for art and poetry is also evident in her view that “art makes life worth living, and in my opinion, it’s what makes humans worth the fight.”
She believes that it’s important to preserve the creations we leave behind and ensure that they are witnessed and observed by others.
Siddiqa’s advocacy for climate change is rooted in her belief that the earth is a living being and that humans have a responsibility to protect it. “We, collectively, have come to a point where we are ignoring the cries of the earth mother,” she says.
Siddiqa’s inclusion in TIME’s Women of the Year 2023 list is a testament to her tireless efforts to protect the planet and uplift the vulnerable. As she continues to fight for climate justice, Siddiqa is a shining example of how individuals can make a real impact on the world.
Siddiqa is not only a climate activist but also a human rights defender. She has worked with various organisations such as Amnesty International and has spoken out about the human rights violations that occur as a result of climate change. She is a founding member of the Youth for Human Rights International Pakistan and is also involved in promoting peace and conflict resolution in her community, according to Wikipedia.
Siddiqa is a highly educated individual with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Affairs from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and a Master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Manchester.
She is also a recipient of the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, which is awarded to outstanding individuals who demonstrate leadership potential and academic excellence.
In addition to her climate activism, Siddiqa is an accomplished writer and has published several articles and papers on environmental and social justice issues. She is also a talented poet and believes that art can play a crucial role in bringing about social change.
Her activism has not gone unnoticed, and she has received numerous accolades for her work. In 2020, she was named a “Youth Climate Leader” by the British High Commission in Pakistan, and in 2021, she was named a “Youth Hero” by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan. Siddiqa’s dedication to preserving the earth and promoting social justice serves as an inspiration to all of us.
