ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has the least contribution to global warming and ranked at 135th position in carbon dioxide emissions, yet, it is faced with severe climate changes and has been ranked 3rd in the list of most vulnerable countries to climate change.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid said this while inaugurating a three-day international conference on "Plants, People and Climate" here on Tuesday. The Pakistan Council for Science and Technology organised the conference on the important issue of climate change at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).
In his address, the minister highlighted irony of the issue that the developing countries are the least responsible for climate change contributing only 10 percent of annual global carbon dioxide emissions but they are the ones which are the most vulnerable to the environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change.
He stated that Pakistan being a developing country is in a similar situation. It has the least contribution to global warming i.e. ranked at 135th position in carbon dioxide emissions. Yet, it is faced with severe climate changes and has been ranked 3rd in the list of most vulnerable countries to climate change. A recent report from World Bank warned Pakistan of the existence of five major risks related to climate change: rise in sea level, glacial retreats, floods, higher average temperature and higher frequency of droughts.
Kamran Ali Qureshi, Secretary Ministry of Science and Technology, in his address, stated that the annual rate of deforestation in Pakistan ranges from 4-6 percent while carbon dioxide emissions are increasing annually at the rate of 8-10 percent, which is an alarming trend.
Speaking on the occasion, Raja Hasan Abbas, Secretary, Climate Change Division, informed that his Division is responsible for formulating national policies, plans, strategies and programmes with regard to disaster management including environmental protection, preservation, pollution, ecology, forestry, wildlife, biodiversity, climate change and desertification.
Dr. Ahsan Raza, Pro-Rector National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, and Prof. Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Vice Chancellor Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences & Technology speaking on the occasion, vowed that they would give due attention to climate change research in their respective universities.
Prof Mudassir Asrar in her address highlighted efforts of her organisation to bring the issue of global warming and climate change on the forefront. She also mentioned that it is the 2nd international conference, which her organisation is organizing on this important issue.