ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is home to over 13,032 glaciers spanning the Karakoram, Hindu Kush and the Himalayan mountain ranges, making its northern region the largest reservoir of glaciers outside of the Polar Regions.

However, with striking changes in the climate, these glaciers and the habitats surrounding them are deeply troubled with 10,000 glaciers reported to be receding.

This information was shared with participants of an event held to discuss the glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) project.

The project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination and supported by the Green Climate Fund is focused on overcoming the climate vulnerabilities of valleys in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

According to a statement, the project aims to protect communities from the impacts of GLOFs. In collaboration with Cirrus Pakistan, the project is rolling out awareness sessions at various universities and colleges in GB and KP, leading up to a climate-centric hackathon to incubate ideas and solutions based on local knowledge to propel climate adaptation mechanisms and programming.

Dr Allah Ditta, Associate Professor/Chairman Department of Environmental Sciences at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Sheringal, Dir, said, “Collective efforts in engaging our youth through such initiatives will pave the way for innovative solutions to combat the severe impacts of climate change in our region.”

Sumaira Gul, a student from Karakoram International University, Chilas (Diamer) campus, stressed the need to invest in climate-centric solutions to overcome the impacts of global warming.

“The severity of the situation has encouraged me to participate in this hackathon, hoping to contribute to sustainable solutions that will protect our communities and environment,” she added.

UNDP’s GLOF-II project works in 16 valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan and eight valleys in KP. It empowers communities to identify and manage risks associated with GLOFs and related impacts of climate change, strengthens public services to lower the risk of disasters related to GLOFs and improves community preparedness and disaster response.

The project also supports the development of sustainable livelihood options in project areas with a particular focus on the participation of women in ensuring food security and livelihoods.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2024