KARACHI: In an attempt to raise awareness about climate change, the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has asked the ulema and other stakeholders to sensitize people about the issue in their sermons and speeches.

In this regard, the PRCS Sindh branch held a coordination meeting at a local hotel here the other day to discuss the issue with clerics.

Presided over by PRCS-Sindh chairperson Shahnaz S. Hamid, it was attended by Haji Muhammad Hanif Tayyab, Mufti Muhammad Zubair, Maulana Abdul Waheed, Qazi Ahmed Noorani, Maulana Muhammad Salafi, Maulana Tanveer-ul-Haq Thanvi and Dr Mohsin Naqvi.

The purpose was to get encouragement and consent of religious scholars to help inform public about climate change and its effects through their Friday sermons and other speeches.

The PRCS-Sindh chairperson said the society had joined the cause in collaboration with its partner German Red Cross and advocated adoption of a community-based approach. “Our commitment to climate change starts with the launch of Climate Advocacy and Coordination for Resilient Action which gives our team an opportunity to ascertain our unified commitment to working on climate change adaptation,” she added. The nation needed increased resilience against climate change by building an adaptive capacity. But this was not possible without creating mass-level awareness, she added.

Highlighting importance of talking about climate change, Ms Hamid said Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change was high, also due to environmental degradation, among other factors. Karachi and Lahore, she pointed out, had poor air quality and often hit the list of world’s most polluted cities.

“Climate change should be everyone’s priority. In this respect, I believe the role of religious scholars is of paramount importance and will be even more critical in the years to come. The challenge could be effectively tackled if the ulema sensitize the public about the issue in their Friday sermons.

“Based on the discussion with participants, we can start a climate change campaign by adopting a park,” she suggested.

Other speakers appreciated the PRCS initiative and expressed willingness to provide assistance.

“The PRCS deserves accolades for creating awareness among the public about this serious environmental problem,” said Haji Muhammad Hanif Tayyab.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of NED University, Karachi University, Bahria University, National Institute of Oceanography, Sindh Envir­onmental Protection Agency, Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Pakistan Boy Scouts Association, Federal Civil Defence Training School, Pakistan Meteoro­logical Department and journalists.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2021