Voice of climate-by Naseem Sheikh

 For the majority of the public, it would be interesting and surprising to discover that glaciers are male and female. However, even more, astonishing and unbelievable is the fact that glaciers can be created. When it comes to glaciers, no one in the world knows more about glaciers than the people of Gilgit-Baltistan. The region of Gilgit-Baltistan is totally dependent on glaciers as the water of the glaciers is what gives rise to agriculture in Gilgit-Baltistan. At the same time, it has given rise to such exercises and endeavours which are extremely astonishing. This is not unusual, given the fact that the world’s largest and most glaciers outside the polar region are found in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Farming in Gilgit-Baltistan comes into being because of these glaciers. This dependence has not only given rise to an enchanting chain of beliefs about glaciers but has also given rise to some amazing exercises and endeavours. Another interesting fact is that there is no consensus...

 In recent years, Gilgit-Baltistan University, Karakoram International University Gilgit, and Wafa Foundation have teamed up with locals to create five artificial glaciers in Gilgit-Baltistan. Five artificial glaciers have been created in Gilgit-Baltistan to counter the effects of climate change and to ensure that locals have access to water in summer. In addition, the procedure is part of the Glacier Lake Out Burst Flood Risk Reduction (GLOF-II) project, launched by the Ministry of Climate Change. The University of Gilgit-Baltistan, Karakoram International University Gilgit of Pakistan, Wafa Foundation, and the local people of Chandu village, Skardu, Nagar’s Marko village, Hussainabad village, and Khawardo village cooperated in this excellent environmental cause. This new development will fight climate change and store water. With more than 7000 glaciers, Gilgit-Baltistan is called the land of glaciers. But where some glaciers are not formed naturally, an ancient technique of graf...

  The Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, gave a compelling speech today at COP26 on the issues facing mankind. He cited that "Humanity has never done anything this hard", but that the amount accomplished in the last six years alone shows the potential for nations, corporations, and individuals to massively reduce the number of emissions we collectively produce and keep beneath the 1.5 degree temperature increase target. In line with this, Mr. Gates has pledged $315m of funding to support vulnerable farmers, whose livelihoods are most keenly affected by the ever-increasing temperature of the planet - which threatens not only their source of work but resources for everyone they provide for. What's more, Mr. Gates didn't shy away from China's integral role and potential as one of the biggest players at COP26, saying they will be the source of "innovation" and that "without China, we won't get there". He urged all nations, and in particular his own...

                              A fantastic result on only the second day of COP26 as more than 100 nations have agreed to a global methane pledge that aims to cut emissions of the gas by 30% before the end of the decade. This agreement was spearheaded by leaders of the United States and the United Kingdom, President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Boris Johnson respectively. The POTUS in particular stated in his opening speech that the US is "back at the table" and plans to "lead by example", something that has been decisively demonstrated by this latest deal. The reason this is such a big milestone is because of the devastating impact methane has on our planet. As it accounts for 33% of total global warming emissions - and is one of the highest contributors to the "Greenhouse" effect that is slowly cooking our planet. Levels of methane in the atmosphere are continuing to rise every day, but with this new pledge from...

The most current report from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (drafted on Aug. 7, 2019) highlights the vulnerability of global food sanctuary to deviations in climate and land use. The report emphasized that adaptive strategies to reduce total carbon production and preserve natural ecosystems are humanity’s best chance at mitigating the climate emergency’s effects on food production.   The report stressed the extent of human dependency on land systems. Humans are currently using one quarter to one third of available land’s potential production capacities. Essential products that come from land use, including feed and natural energy sources such as fossil fuels, are crucial to agricultural yields and the sustainability of the food supply chain. Land degradation is a general term describing negative trends in land condition, such as loss in biological productivity and ecological value to humans, Civilization is consuming assets at an exceptional degree. T...

Desertification is nothing new to the world, but global warming combined with human activities is accelerating this phenomenon. The old saying “rain follows the forest and desert follows man” is rather depressing, but it doesn’t have to be if we understand how deserts are created and how we can reverse the process. It is difficult to do much about another country, but we can learn from mistakes made in other places to make sure we don’t repeat them. Luckily, we live on a relatively big island. Our population is small and we have a sense of aloha aina, so let us focus on our own gardens. A garden planted with no thought given to dry spells will do well in rainy periods but deteriorates without irrigation in dry periods, even in East Hawaii. Fortunately, many garden plants in Hawaii are fairly hardy when it comes to short water supply, so we have a long list to call upon. It’s important to vegetate these areas so that our islands don’t look like Death Valley in years to come. ...

The Amazon rainforest is burning at a record rate since more than three weeks, the highest on record since 2013 and an 83% increase from last year. Earlier this month, Brazil declared a state of emergency over the rising number of fires in the region. So far this year, almost 73,000 fires in the country have been detected by Brazil's space research center, INPE. The Amazon is regarded as vital in the fight against global warming due to its ability to absorb carbon from the air. It’s often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth,” as more than 20 per cent of the world’s oxygen is produced there and is home to 10% of the world's known biodiversity. Brazil has the biggest share of the 670 million hectares of forest (60 per cent), which is home to more species than anywhere else on the planet. The region is home to 2.5 million insect species, tens of thousands of plants, and some 2000 birds and mammals. Satellite images show fires in the Brazilian st...

Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time (i.e., decades to millions of years). Climate change is now affecting every country on every continent. It is disrupting national economies and affecting lives, costing people, communities and countries dearly today and even more tomorrow. Weather patterns are changing, sea levels are rising, weather events are becoming more extreme and greenhouse gas emissions are now at their highest levels in history. Without action, the world’s average surface temperature is likely to surpass 3 degrees centigrade this century. The poorest and most vulnerable people are being affected the most. The  Intergovernmental  Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is an  intergovernmental  body of the United Nations, dedicated to providing the world with an objective, scientific view of climate change and its political and economic impacts. It  is an...

  Weather of Pakistan  is expecting another good spell of monsoon rain after very hot, humid and sweaty period. PMD (Pakistan Meteorological Department ) has informed that the “second spell of monsoon rains is expected in coming 24 hours, travelling through the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, has made its way into the north-eastern parts of the country.” Rainfall is expected to match the long-term average to slightly more in northern half of Pakistan. Good rainfall spell are expected during the 2nd and 3rd decade of the month, which may cause urban flooding and flash floods in some parts of the country. According to the spokesperson of meteorological department, the monsoon with gusty winds and thunder splash will lash isolated places in Malakand, Hazara, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Lahore divisions, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir regions from 13th to 15th July. “Seasonal Low lies over North Baluchistan on 14th and 15th July with its trough extending sou...

IS CO2 main culprit of global warming or not? Recently this is very debatable topic, one group says CO2 is a normal gas like hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen and not a reason of recent global warming but there is group of believers that admit CO2 as culpable and I am believer of second group. To satisfies them I have a small logical reason as in our surrounding we have a large number of nutrients but not all of equal importance, few are micro and other are macro similarly their ratio in our diet matters a lot. If one exceed its normal limit cause in ill factor of body functioning. Similarly CO2 is main culprit for causing global warming due to presence of carbon which is main building block of nature and nature believes on balance of every thing. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a slightly toxic, odourless, colourless gas with a slightly pungent, acid taste. it is currently occurring at an average concentration of about 390 parts per million by volume or 591 parts per millio...