KARACHI: Leading local and foreign policymakers, researchers, and community stakeholders addressing the Annual Conference on Climate Change, Agriculture, Human Nutrition, and Development in Pakistan, discussed the ways and means to tackle the escalating impacts of climate change both in the country and globally.
The moot was organised by the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Global Health & Development (IGHD) in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Pakistan
Dr Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, distinguished professor and founding director of IGHD, opened the conference by emphasising the urgent need for collective action. He stated:
"Climate change is not merely an environmental crisis—it is a threat multiplier that profoundly impacts health, nutrition, and livelihoods. Pakistan stands at a critical juncture, and the solutions we discuss today will determine whether we mitigate disaster or exacerbate its effects."
Keynote speakers included Prof Sir Andrew Haines from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Dr Lynette Neufeld, Director of Food & Nutrition at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and Dr Haris Gazdar from the Collective for Social Science Research in Pakistan.
The discussions centred on the disproportionate burden of climate change, where greenhouse gas emissions from high-income countries lead to severe repercussions in low- and middle-income nations.
Citing recent studies, the speakers highlighted the dire consequences of human-induced climate change. Research in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that the majority of emissions originate in affluent nations, while a study in Nature Climate Change attributed over 35pc of heat-related deaths from 1990 to 2018 to human activities.
Pakistan, grappling with rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and worsening food insecurity, is at the forefront of the climate crisis. These challenges disproportionately impact women in rural areas, who bear increased workloads due to shifting migration patterns and entrenched gender roles.
The conference stressed the need for equity-focused, inclusive strategies to ensure that vulnerable populations are not excluded from adaptation efforts.
Speakers advocated for cross-sectoral climate mitigation measures, including nature-based solutions, which have demonstrated success in previous projects and could save millions of lives annually and significantly reduce long-term climate risks.
Chief guest Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, acknowledged the dual challenges and opportunities presented by climate change. He remarked:
"The challenges posed by climate change are immense, but so are the opportunities to innovate and transform. Institutions like AKU play a pivotal role in connecting research with policy and practice to safeguard future generations."
Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President of AKU, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to addressing multifaceted challenges like climate change. He noted: "As one of the region’s leading institutions, we recognise our responsibility to inspire solutions that strengthen resilience and ensure a sustainable future for Pakistan and beyond through collaborative research and partnerships."
The conference served as a critical platform for forging pathways towards sustainable development, with a strong focus on addressing the immediate and long-term implications of climate change in Pakistan.