Afghan migrants in Canada share views on climate change

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghan migrants in Canada believed the country should invest in the area of spreading more knowledge and awareness among newcomers regarding the threat of climate change which is affecting the globe.

“The government of Canada is spending a lot of money to integrate these newcomers into the society and give them knowledge about living, culture, how to find work, education, and the political system. But the knowledge about climate change is not among these efforts,” The National Observer quoted Amanullah Atal, a board member of the non-profit Afghan Network for Social Services (ANSS) based in Toronto.

With government support, Atal said his organization would willingly teach immigrants about climate change and how to be good stewards of their new environment. It could also reach out to those already here.

“It is not actually just newcomers, even immigrants who lived here for years and become citizens, they still don’t know the importance of climate change,” said Atal.

Abdul Basit Karokhel, another refugee and journalist from Afghanistan, made it his mission to learn about climate change before he was forced to leave the country.

However, even though climate change was affecting people in Afghanistan, most were not overly interested because they were struggling with more immediate threats like war and famine.

Karokhel hopes to continue his work reporting on climate change for the Afghan community here in Canada.

“I see our Afghan community needs knowledge about it, and it is very important that everyone learn about climate change.”

The government has adopted the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act as a framework to combat climate change.

However, even though climate change was affecting people in Afghanistan, most were not overly interested because they were struggling with more immediate threats like war and famine.

Karokhel hopes to continue his work reporting on climate change for the Afghan community here in Canada.

“I see our Afghan community needs knowledge about it, and it is very important that everyone learn about climate change.”

The government has adopted the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act as a framework to combat climate change.

“I never heard (about it) before,” said Samira Sameem, a refugee from Afghanistan. “I want to learn about climate change, but the problem is that in my almost one and half years in Canada, nobody told me or educated me about climate change.”

Note: This story was produced in partnership with Journalists for Human Rights for the Afghan Journalists-in-Residence program funded by the Meta Journalism Project.

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