Daily Times
Published Date: Jan 22, 2016
Scientists urged to focus climate change policy research
ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Climate Change Secretary Arif Ahmed Khan has underscored a need for scientists and researchers in Pakistan to steer policy research focus towards solutions direly needed for combating climate change induced for expanding aridity and desertification in the country.
“Pakistan is in a pressing need of research-based workable solutions to fight expanding desertification and aridity which are devouring rich fertile land. If not tackled, these climate change induced natural events can badly hurt the country’s agro-based economy and lead to food insecurity,” Khan warned while addressing a high-level gathering of internationally acclaimed climate change scientists, policy researchers, development experts and economists today.
The participants from Overseas Development Institute United Kingdom; Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics; Centre for Climate Change Studies at the University of Dar Es Salaam Tanzania; Innovation Environment Development En Afriquie Senegal; Kenya Markets Trust and International Development Research Centre Canada participated in the gathering.
These institutes are part of an international consortium Pathways to resilience in Semi-arid Economies (PRISE), says a statement issued.
The Executive Director Dr Abid Suleri of the Islamabad-based Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) led the delegation.
The climate change secretary further said that the desert dwellings and natural habitats are highly fragile and are likely to be more vulnerable as impacts of climate change grow from bad to worse and afflict the country’s efforts meant for achieving sustainable development goals.
These fragile arid and semi-arid ecosystems are in urgent need of integrated conservation approaches for adaptation to climate change.
“However, for ecosystem maintenance and introduction of innovative crops and livestock management in the arid and hyper arid areas in light of impending climate change impacts are considered important. Similarly, policy measures like achieving technological breakthrough for irrigation systems to raise vegetative, ensuring building vegetative barriers for safeguarding against sand storms near human habitats are necessary. He said that the encouraging development of technological innovations for improved water efficiency for crops.
Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/islamabad/22-Jan-2016/scientists-urged-to-focus-climate-change-policy-research