Scientific Collaboration Seeks to Address Climate Threats in Pakistan

News Desk 

Rawalpindi: Pakistan is projected to be among the countries most affected by climate change, with women and children being particularly vulnerable, as observed by speakers at a workshop held at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) on Monday. 

This workshop marked a groundbreaking effort to combat the escalating climate crisis, initiated by scientists from North Carolina State University (NCSU), USA, in collaboration with FJWU, Pakistan.

 They conducted a joint research project on “Climate Change Impacts on Glaciers, Rivers, and Oceans.”

This initiative is part of the project “Developing the Next Generation of Female Environmentalists; Pakistani Women University Climate Change Consortium.” 

The project aims to empower female students in Pakistan by equipping them with advanced climate science knowledge and skills. 

Dr Lewis Owen, Dean of the College of Sciences at NCSU, shared his extensive expertise on the glacial history of the Himalayan mountains, providing invaluable insights into the region’s geomorphological changes due to climate change.

The workshop highlighted the critical role of academia in shaping national policies through scientific evidence.  Farzana Altaf Shah, the first female Director General of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), emphasized the importance of such initiatives.

“To meet the challenges of climate change in Pakistan, it is essential that the role of academia be projected at a national level for policymaking because, without scientific evidence, such decisions cannot be made,” she stated.

FJWU Vice Chancellor Dr Uzaira Rafique expressed gratitude to the entire project team. “Exchange of knowledge in such workshops paves the way for scientific development in Pakistan,” she said. The scientific data, information, and evidence generated from this project will be shared with the Ministry of Climate Change and the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency to forecast future challenges such as rising temperatures.

This successful collaboration between NCSU and FJWU signifies a promising step towards safeguarding Pakistan against the threats posed by climate change.

Continued cooperation between the scientific communities of both nations is expected to yield significant strides in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.