Entrepreneurs attempt to ease climate hazards

Rely on AI and computer algorithms to increase accuracy of weather prediction to 95%

KARACHI:

Keeping in view the threats of climate change, Pakistani entrepreneurs are taking initiatives to reduce the impact of changing weather patterns on the country.

Two businessmen have come up with the idea of weather data analytics and forecasts with the help of artificial intelligence and computer algorithms to increase the accuracy of predictions to 95%.

Warning of a 2.5-degree-Celsius rise in temperature over the next two decades, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank have estimated that climate change is costing Pakistan up to $3.8 billion per year.

The two lenders in a joint study, titled “Climate Risk Country Profile”, placed Pakistan among the most endangered countries due to climate change. Moreover, according to a German report titled “Global Climate Risk Index 2021”, Pakistan has been ranked eighth in the list of countries affected by climate change during 2000 and 2019.

In Pakistan, the effects of climate change are expected to be far-reaching, such as declining agricultural productivity, decreasing water availability, increasing coastal erosion and seawater infiltration, and rising frequency of extreme climatic events.

The ability to accurately analyse climate data and the effects of climate change is of paramount importance.

In view of the climate effects on economy and society, the entrepreneurs are determined to address Pakistan’s vulnerabilities by enabling people and businesses to make timely and accurate predictions through the analysis of weather data.

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The entrepreneurs, Junaid Yamin and Khizer Alam, said that most of the farmers were worried about the weather.

In Pakistan, data was obtained from international models and large institutions, and forecasts were made based on that data, they pointed out.

But due to the lack of data points, the data could not be verified, thus the accuracy of the forecast was limited to 60%, they added.

“Accurate analysis of weather data as well as knowledge of environment and local weather information and topology is of paramount importance,” they said, adding that advanced countries had managed to increase the accuracy of forecasts to more than 95%.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2021.

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