Govt urged to control rising carbon dioxide levels

Sources say that carbon dioxide makes up 72% of all greenhouse gases

LAHORE: Experts and environmentalists have urged the federal government to draw up a comprehensive strategy to address the rapidly increasing levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the air.

Experts expressed the hope that the tree planting initiative of the incumbent government will help to combat the impact of climate change during the next five years.

Sources from the Pakistan Council of Scientific Industrial Research (PCSIR) said that carbon dioxide makes up 72% of all greenhouse gases while methane and nitrous oxide make up 18% and 9% respectively.

Environmentalist Dr Mehmood Khalid Qamar stated that the nation was facing rising temperatures, droughts and floods which are affecting people’s health, agriculture and water supplies. Greenhouse gases are a major contributor towards environmental pollution throughout the world; they play a critical role in global warming, he added.

According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2018, Pakistan is among the top ten countries most affected by climate change.

Sources at the Global Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC) revealed that the centre was developing policy recommendations to help the government with their tree plantation campaign and to address climate change.

The centre is taking steps to promote coordination among researchers and institutions working on different aspects of climate change in Pakistan, sources said.

The government is facilitating the collaboration of various local tree plantation formations with international scientists and experts who are engaged in several research activities, the sources added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2018.