Karachi: The world needs environmental remodelling to improve the health status of people worldwide, and we can achieve this by becoming curators instead of just being navigators. Dr. Joost van Wijchen, PT, Norway, expressed these views during his online speech on the topic of “Competition against Climate Crisis” on the second day of the International Hybrid Conference being organized by IMAGINE-Institute of Futures Studies at Iqra University, North Campus, Karachi with the theme of “IMAGINE-Sustaining Climate Crisis.” He identified several factors responsible for creating direct and indirect, short-term and long-term impacts on a person’s health if not dealt with initially. He emphasized developing and organizing awareness campaigns in the community at the grass-root level to prevent the spread of this debilitating yet undermined healthcare factor.
An expert panel from Pakistan later joined the session comprising Dr. Syed Baqar Raza Rizvi, Director at Sindh Health Care Commission (SHCC), Ms. Zareen Zahid Qureshi, General Manager, Poverty Eradication Initiative (PEI), Dr. Naveed Bhutto, RMNCH & Nutrition Specialist, Mr. Akber Farooqi, Entrepreneur & CEO Children, and Families Welfare Organisation, Ms. Lorner Lynette Chikoto, Lecturer, Human Nutrition & Dietetics, Iqra University and moderated by Dr. Tabinda Ashfaq, HOD & Professor Department of Family Medicine, Iqra University.
The panellists highlighted the different aspects of future climate calamities Pakistan may face. The panellists implied the recent floods as catastrophic examples of change in global climate affecting the Global South the most. They identified their efforts to improve the living status of the flood-stricken villages. They emphasized the consequences these people face if not given proper attention and care at these times. They also encouraged the youth to identify their strengths and utilize them to improve the climatic crises.
Dr. Muhammad Imran, HOD, Department of Pharmacy, Iqra University, delivered the vote of thanks to the respected panellists, guests, and the audience and presented the panellists with commemorative shields.
Karachi: Assistant Professor of College Education Sindh Javed Khosa while speaking on the second day of the 3-day international conference “Combating Climate Crisis” held at Iqra University North Campus said that in the last 20 years, there have been 3 floods in Pakistan, which have caused a lot of destruction. He suggested that rehabilitation of climate-affected regions requires public-private partnership.
Muhammad Faizan, a young social worker, expressed that the younger generation can play a significant role in dealing with the flood situation in Pakistan. Arfa Khalid, a young community worker also narrated that when we went to the flooded areas of Balochistan from Karachi, there was an urgent need for medicines and doctors, and we helped the flood victims as much as possible.
Sobia Anwar emphasized the importance of anticipation and foresight to deal with uncertainties related to climate-driven change. Salman Khatami moderated the panel session on the challenges and solutions to the climate crisis from the youth’s perspective. He pointed out the need to change our attitudes and take responsible actions to overcome the climate crisis.
Karachi: Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Supervisor of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, Head of the Department of Civilizational Dialogue at ICESCO participated online from Morocco in the three-day international conference “Combating Climate Crisis” held at Iqra University North Campus.
The environmental crisis is a huge global problem, and we must look for practical solutions. Ethical use of new technologies is very important as this is how we can improve ecosystems and prevent degradation. He said that ICESCO is playing an active role with international organizations to deal with the environmental crisis, and awareness seminars and conferences are being organized at the international level on climate change, the policies of which are also being worked on because it is an alarm bell for human life.
Dr. Zafar Iqbal Shams, former professor of environmental studies at the University of Karachi, said that Pakistan is among the 9 countries most affected by environmental degradation in the world and Pakistan has the largest population compared to all the other 8 countries. In COP 27, it has been decided in principle that the losses of the countries suffering from environmental deterioration of the world will be compensated.
He said that today the emission of CFC gasses from the world has completely ended because all the countries had agreed on this matter. Similarly, the emission of carbon dioxide and methane gas can be reduced and eliminated with the agreement of all countries.
