ISLAMABAD - Experts on Friday unanimously urged both Pakistan and India to adopt a unique approach on national disaster management to amicably deal with extreme climate events and establish robust emergency food reserves and financing capacity for rapid humanitarian responses to vulnerable populace.
Experts, on second day of the plenary session titled "India-Pakistan Dialogue on Climate Change and Energy" organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Heinrich Boll Stiftung (HBS) which was held here in a private hotel, were of the opinion that India and Pakistan are in dire need to develop a research agenda. They unanimously said this while speaking on their turn. They said both countries must adopt a unique approach to cope with national disaster management following the extreme climate events.
They also urged that both neighbouring should also establish robust emergency food reserves along with a financing capacity that can deliver rapid humanitarian responses to vulnerable populations threatened by the climate change. This dialogue between India & Pakistan will forge ways to cooperate and collaborate in critical areas, experts observed.
In the session Food Security: India Perspective, Ram Kishan Regional Emergency Manager South Asia, said that unfortunately, climate change increased migration and in the result, displacement of agricultural producers has implications for national food security.
In this regard, an international mechanism is needed to address loss and damage and slow onset impacts on agriculture. Pervaiz Amir, Senior Economist, ASIANICS discussed the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and energy security in Pakistan.