GILGIT (Staff Report) – WWF-Pakistan, in collaboration with various universities, organized a three-day conference on climate change in Karakoram International University (KIU).
Hafiz Hafeez ur Rehman, Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan, formally inaugurated the conference, “International Conference on Mountains and Climate Change – Resources, Challenges and Opportunities for Better Life and Livelihoods”.
The Chief Minister shared his concerns over the increase in extreme weathering events in the region. According to him, “Changing snowfall patterns, annual flooding, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), soil erosion and deforestation are some of the major threats that the people of GB face at large.”
He added that climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies can help to deal with environmental hazards. The CM said, “I strongly believe that this conference will serve as guidance for the international community and promote research-based solutions in the region.”
International experts from Kathmandu University, Nepal; Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway; ICIMOD; Politecnico di Milano, Italy; College of Environmental Protection Velenje Trgmladosti Velenje, Slovenia, EU; EV-K2-CNR; and Institute for Ecosystem Study, Italy, discussed various aspects of climate change and its impacts on fragile mountain ecosystems, lives and livelihoods.
