Experts urge holistic approach to climate crisis

A high-level roundtable convened on Thursday, urging government officials and policymakers to adopt a comprehensive and inclusive approach to tackle the escalating climate crisis through anticipatory adaptation.

The event, titled “Foresight and Futures Thinking for Anticipatory Adaptation in Pakistan,” was organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). The aim was to explore how stakeholders can consider future risks and integrate them into existing plans and policies.

Dr Babar Shahbaz, from the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Institute of Agricultural Extension Education and Rural Development, set the stage by emphasising the importance of understanding and proactively addressing future risks to ensure resilience.

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Amina Maharjan, Senior Specialist in Livelihoods and Migration at ICIMOD, enlightened participants on the concept of foresight, emphasizing methods such as scenario development, gender-inclusive steps, and participatory approaches to address climate-resilient future development.

Sultan Mehmood, the World Food Programme (WFP) representative, highlighted ongoing climate adaptation interventions, particularly the Living Indus Initiative. He emphasised the critical components of water management, governance, land cover area protection, and multi-hazard vulnerability risk assessment (MHVRA) to effectively confront climate challenges.

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Muhammad Farooq, Senior Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, outlined the ministry’s steps in response to the escalating climate catastrophes. He mentioned the development of baseline data, MHVRA, and efforts towards mapping and prediction until 2090. However, he noted gaps in existing strategies, such as the lack of linkage between adaptation and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in developed countries.

Dr Shafqat Munir, Deputy Executive Director of SDPI, stressed the need for collaborative efforts to enhance disaster risk reduction and climate change anticipatory adaptation. He emphasised the importance of breaking silos and adopting an anticipatory approach to risk governance and financing.

Arshad Samad Khan, a representative from the United Nations Environment Programme, provided insights into the region’s climate vulnerability, citing glacial melt in the north and sea-level rise in the south.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2023.