Kashmir Faces Severe Climate Risks Amid Ongoing Conflict: Experts

APP

Mirpur: Experts at a recent symposium have called for urgent collective action to safeguard vulnerable populations in disputed territories, such as Kashmir, from the escalating impacts of climate change.

The seminar, organized by the Kashmir Institute of International Relations in collaboration with International Action for Peace and Sustainable Development, was held during the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. It brought together international specialists, human rights advocates, diplomats, and academics.

Key speakers, including environmentalist Talha Tufail Bhatti and Dr Shugafta Ashraf, highlighted the severe threat posed by climate change to communities in conflict-affected regions. They emphasized that ongoing political conflicts and violence exacerbate the environmental challenges these populations face.

“Kashmir is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change,” noted the speakers, citing rising temperatures, melting glaciers, and increased rainfall leading to frequent flash floods. These environmental changes have severely impacted agriculture, water supply, and livelihoods.

The experts also raised concerns about the decline in groundwater levels and the deterioration of wetlands, which serve as crucial habitats for bird species.

They warned that the region’s ecology is further destabilized by the presence of over 900,000 Indian troops, particularly around the rapidly melting Siachin Glacier.

To address these issues, the speakers called for coordinated and comprehensive strategies to mitigate the climate crisis in these sensitive regions.