The Centre for Strategic Perspectives (CSP), Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organised a Webinar titled “Strategies for Mitigating Impacts of Climate Crisis,” on August 12, 2021. Mr Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, Climate Change and water expert was the keynote speaker on the occasion. Other speakers for the webinar included Mr Ashfaq Mehmood, former Federal Secretary, Water and Power, Government of Pakistan; Dr Gulfaraz Ahmad, former Federal Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Resources, Government of Pakistan; Dr Arjumand Nizami, Country Director, Helvetas, Pakistan and Ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel, Chairperson BoG, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI). The Talk was moderated by Mr Malik Qasim Mustafa, Director ACDC & CSP at the ISSI.
Malik Qasim Mustafa in his introductory remarks said that countries like Pakistan are among the top 10 countries, which are suffering from the Climate Change phenomenon. According to the latest IPCC report, “Climate change is widespread, rapid and intensifying.” The Climate Change threat is real now and Pakistan needs to work and develop strategies to reduce and mitigate the impact of the climate crisis.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, Ambassador Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Director General ISSI, said that there is a need to raise awareness among the country’s policymakers that Climate Change is an existential threat and needs appropriate action to deal with the vulnerabilities arising out of it. He identified three main issues in this regard. Firstly, this is a serious crisis, secondly, area of vulnerabilities and strength need to be defined, and thirdly, a plan must be put in place and implement it.
