Global Change Impact Study Centre to expand capacity

Centre decides to include members from foreign affairs ministry, HEC

ISLAMABAD: A centre dedicated to studying the impact of climate change on glaciers has decided to enhance its capability and capacity, taking on additional members including from the Ministry of Foreign affairs ministry and the Higher Education Commission

The Global Change Impact Study Centre (GCISC) is a dedicated research institute for climate change studies in the Ministry of Climate Change. Its board of governors met on Monday for its fourth meeting to deliberate on various issues of the centre.

Members highlighted a lack of information and studies on the glaciers in Pakistan apart from deliberating over capacity and availability of water in rivers and underground resources.

The members’ also discussed the implementation of a framework of the board.

The meeting further deliberated over plans to increase the number of board members along with enhancing the capacity of the board in the technical, institutional, infrastructure, and communication. Furthermore, a proposal to train and mentor board members by researchers was introduced along with a proposal to promote climate change studies, particularly master plans in this field and measures for a better understanding of the impact of climate change.

The meeting also gave recommendations for the coastal and desert areas apart from prescribing a timeline and a framework for the working of the board.

The board decided to donate old computers of the centre to a school. Moreover, it approved a measure add seats to the board.

They decided to seek additional from the government apart from seeking financial support from non-governmental organisations to fund these plans.

Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid, in the final session, proposed that the word “climate” should be added to the centre’s name.  The board members also agreed to include members from the foreign affairs and HEC on the board.

Members also considered hiring additional social scientists and technical experts in the centre.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2017.