Developing countries least responsible for climate change contributing only 10 percent of annual global carbon dioxide emissions: Minister

Islamabad, January 20, 2014 (PPI-OT): COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) has set up a Centre for Climate Research and Development (CCRD) to develop Pakistan’s capacity to enhance understanding of climate change, develop research capacity, promote teaching of climate sciences and establish research networks in the region and internationally.

Federal Minister for Science & Technology Zahid Hamid said this while addressing the 2-day International Conference on “Asian Monsoon and Climate Change”, organized by CCRD, in association with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) of Germany and International Centre for Climate and Environment Sciences (ICCES), Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) of China,

Zahid Hamid said developing countries were the least responsible for climate change contributing only 10 percent of annual global carbon dioxide emissions but they were the ones which are the most vulnerable to the environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change.

He stated that Pakistan being a developing country was in a similar situation. It has the least contribution to global warming and is ranked at 135th position in carbon dioxide emissions. Yet, it is faced with severe climate changes and has been ranked 3rd in the list of most vulnerable countries to climate change.

In his address, Ambassador Shahid Kamal said that the monsoon is a critical factor in the climate system of our region and monsoon precipitation is of vital importance for more than 60 percent of the world’s population.

Pakistan is regarded by the global community as being highly vulnerable to climate change. Ensuring food, water and energy security is vital for the country, he said.

Rector COMSATS Dr. S M Junaid Zaidi said CCRD will work in a trans-disciplinary manner, building on the knowledge and skills of CIIT’s allied departments with research institutions, universities and Government bodies at the national level.

At the international level, CCRD has already established partnerships with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) of Germany and the International Centre of Climate and Environment Science (ICCES) of China to promote cooperative activities.

A large number of leading scientists and researchers at the international and national level participated in the conference. The conference aims to provide a platform for presentations, scientific discussions and knowledge sharing on the variability of the monsoon and its relationship with the changing climate system.

The conference will help to improve understanding and capacity to manage the impacts of climate change on the monsoon system.

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