In response to Pakistan’s growing environmental challenges, including rising air pollution and ecosystem stress, the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) has collaborated with the Lahore Biennale to host a series of climate-focused sessions as part of the Climate Congress.
Running from November 6-8, 2024, the events aim to bring together interdisciplinary perspectives on climate change, art, and environmental action.
A key highlight of the series is the opening of the group art exhibition, “Lamenting the Beloved City or Pledging Devotion Afresh?” which is part of Lahore Biennale 03 (Of Mountains and Seas). The exhibition, showcasing the work of 19 artists, explores the environmental challenges facing the Global South, particularly in Pakistan. The art on display serves as both a reflection and a call to action, inviting viewers to reflect on the environmental risks and push for collective efforts to reverse harmful environmental habits.
The exhibit comes at a time when 13 million residents of Lahore have been choking on the worst smog for a week. The air quality index has passed the 1,000 mark repeatedly this month, well above the 300 threshold that is considered hazardous.
The exhibition also incorporated an interactive element, with two whiteboards encouraging attendees to make their own climate pledges. This interactive feature underscored the collective effort required to change societal behaviors and promote environmental stewardship.
Reflecting on the theme of unity and collective action, Dr. Nadhra Shahbaz Naeem Khan, Associate Professor at LUMS and curator of the exhibition, recited a self-penned poem: “I may be a single drop, together we become an ocean; I may be a solitary fighter, together we can advance as victors!”
This initiative is part of a larger effort to address climate change through the arts and humanities. LUMS, in partnership with the Lahore Biennale, is driving interdisciplinary dialogues across fields such as law, social sciences, and urban studies to create a transformative shift in the narrative around climate change.
Two important panel discussions were held as part of the Climate Congress. The first, “Urban Ecologies: Infrastructures and Lived Realities,” was moderated by Dr. Maryam Ibrahim, Assistant Professor at LUMS. The session focused on the intersection of urban infrastructure and environmental resilience.
Dr. Amen Jaffer, an urban ethnographer, explored how social networks contribute to environmentalism in urban spaces. Meanwhile, Drs. Ameem Lutfi and Nosheen Zaidi shared their research on water mapping in Lahore, offering a sociological perspective on water use in the city. Poet and writer Aneeqa Wattoo further delved into urban spaces, focusing on gender and daily life in Lahore’s evolving urban landscape.
The series will conclude on November 8, 2024, with the panel discussion “Climate Narratives: Storytelling, Advocacy, and Environmental Justice.” The session will feature experts including Dr. Saba Pirzadeh, Ahmad Rafay Alam, and Dr. Fazilda Nabeel, who will explore the role of South Asian fiction in shaping climate narratives, the urgency of climate action, and practical solutions for addressing environmental crises.
In a statement reflecting on the role of academic institutions in climate change discourse, Dr. Ali Cheema, Vice Chancellor of LUMS, said, “As an academic institution, our role extends beyond advancing research and education on these critical topics; we also strive to foster debate by engaging diverse perspectives to reach broader audiences and inspire varied responses. These events underscore the vital role that art and the humanities play in deepening our understanding of ourselves and our ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of using diverse forms of knowledge and representation to shape both discourse and action.”
The LUMS-Lahore Biennale collaboration serves as a critical platform for engaging the public in climate change action through the fusion of art, education, and social advocacy, fostering awareness and inspiring tangible changes in environmental behavior.