Karachi: The Aga Khan University’s Institute for Global Health and Development (IGHD), alongside the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) and the Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP), recently convened a symposium to address the pressing impacts of climate change on Pakistan’s health, agriculture, and economic development. The event, titled “Climate Change and Health and Development Consequences in Pakistan: Challenges and Opportunities,” brought together a diverse group of experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore strategies for mitigating and adapting to climate-related challenges.
According to The Aga Khan University, the symposium emphasized the urgent need for a unified approach to combat the multifaceted effects of climate change. The Honorable Minister Ahsan Iqbal stressed that tackling these issues requires collaboration across all sectors and levels of government, noting that no single entity can solve the problems alone.
Professor Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta, Founding Director of IGHD and the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health at the Aga Khan University, highlighted the severe economic and health ramifications of recent catastrophic climate events in Pakistan. He pointed out that the floods of 2010-11 and 2022 led to substantial economic losses, amounting to up to 11% of the country’s GDP. Dr. Bhutta also noted the ongoing risks posed by water shortages, air pollution, and agricultural vulnerabilities exacerbated by climate change, which could further strain Pakistan’s economy.
The symposium showcased several innovative responses to these challenges. In agriculture, the adoption of sustainable practices and new technologies could significantly improve resource management and productivity. Health sector discussions focused on achieving zero emissions and integrating traditional knowledge into structural adaptations to enhance community resilience.
Key outcomes from the symposium included calls for the development of a comprehensive science, innovation, and research platform to centralize data on climate change’s impacts on the environment and health sectors. Participants also emphasized the importance of increasing research funding and enhancing climate governance, noting the critical need for greater resource allocation beyond the PKR 200 million provided for research from 2021 to 2023.
The event marked a pivotal step towards fostering a collaborative framework for addressing climate change in Pakistan, aiming to leverage technology, indigenous knowledge, and enhanced policy coordination to protect vulnerable communities and ensure sustainable development.