AGL 38.75 Decreased By ▼ -0.75 (-1.9%)
AIRLINK 194.29 Increased By ▲ 17.66 (10%)
BOP 10.65 Increased By ▲ 0.56 (5.55%)
CNERGY 6.99 Increased By ▲ 0.12 (1.75%)
DCL 9.85 Decreased By ▼ -0.08 (-0.81%)
DFML 44.11 Increased By ▲ 1.37 (3.21%)
DGKC 96.90 Decreased By ▼ -1.27 (-1.29%)
FCCL 38.50 Decreased By ▼ -0.81 (-2.06%)
FFBL 81.70 Decreased By ▼ -0.16 (-0.2%)
FFL 14.29 Decreased By ▼ -0.10 (-0.69%)
HUBC 119.54 Decreased By ▼ -1.90 (-1.56%)
HUMNL 14.99 Decreased By ▼ -0.35 (-2.28%)
KEL 5.68 Increased By ▲ 0.02 (0.35%)
KOSM 8.28 Increased By ▲ 0.16 (1.97%)
MLCF 47.00 Decreased By ▼ -1.11 (-2.31%)
NBP 76.01 Increased By ▲ 0.19 (0.25%)
OGDC 195.70 Decreased By ▼ -1.71 (-0.87%)
PAEL 34.99 Increased By ▲ 2.61 (8.06%)
PIBTL 8.28 Increased By ▲ 0.13 (1.6%)
PPL 175.71 Increased By ▲ 0.21 (0.12%)
PRL 33.19 Decreased By ▼ -0.90 (-2.64%)
PTC 23.98 Increased By ▲ 1.64 (7.34%)
SEARL 102.00 Decreased By ▼ -1.20 (-1.16%)
TELE 9.02 Increased By ▲ 0.51 (5.99%)
TOMCL 34.90 Decreased By ▼ -0.13 (-0.37%)
TPLP 11.19 Decreased By ▼ -0.07 (-0.62%)
TREET 18.83 Decreased By ▼ -0.32 (-1.67%)
TRG 60.80 Increased By ▲ 2.24 (3.83%)
UNITY 34.01 Decreased By ▼ -0.85 (-2.44%)
WTL 1.69 Increased By ▲ 0.10 (6.29%)
BR100 11,711 Increased By 59.7 (0.51%)
BR30 35,454 Decreased By -24.1 (-0.07%)
KSE100 109,038 Increased By 799 (0.74%)
KSE30 33,921 Increased By 227 (0.67%)

KARACHI: Leading voices in climate resilience, agriculture, and nutrition gathered in Karachi for the Annual Conference on Climate Change, Agriculture, Human Nutrition & Development in Pakistan. Hosted by the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Global Health & Development (IGHD) in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Pakistan, the event united policymakers, researchers, and community members to address the mounting impacts of climate change in Pakistan and globally.

In his opening remarks, Dr Zulfiqar A Bhutta, Distinguished Professor and Founding Director of IGHD, underscored the urgency of such discussions: “Climate change is not just an environmental crisis — it is a threat multiplier affecting health, nutrition, and livelihoods. Pakistan stands at a critical juncture, and the solutions we identify today will determine whether we mitigate disaster or amplify its impact.”

Keynote speakers Prof Sir Andrew Haines from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; Dr Lynette Neufeld, Director Food & Nutrition, Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO); and Dr Haris Gazdar from the Collective for Social Science Research, Pakistan shared insights on climate change impacts and future solutions.

The effects of climate change are disproportionate, with greenhouse gas emissions primarily originating in wealthy nations, while their most severe impacts are felt in low- and middle-income countries, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Additionally, a study in Nature Climate Change revealed that over 35% of heat-related deaths between 1990 and 2018 were caused by human-induced climate change.

As Pakistan faces rising temperatures, erratic weather, and worsening food insecurity, this conference comes at a crucial time. Food insecurity driven by climate change is expected to intensify women’s workloads, particularly in rural areas, as migration patterns shift, and traditional gender roles persist.

In response, the speakers called for inclusive, equity-focused strategies to ensure that vulnerable communities are not left behind in adaptation efforts. Well-designed climate mitigation actions across sectors could prevent millions of premature deaths worldwide each year in the near term and reduce climate risks. This includes nature-based solutions which have shown promise in past projects.

Chief Guest, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan said, “The challenges posed by climate change are monumental, but so are the opportunities to innovate and transform. Institutions like AKU are central to this transformation, connecting research to policy and practice to protect future generations.”

Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President of AKU said, “As one of the region’s leading institutions we recognize our responsibility to tackle multifaceted challenges like climate change. Through collaborative research and partnerships, we aim to inspire solutions that strengthen resilience and ensure a sustainable future for Pakistan and beyond.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024

Comments

200 characters