NEW DELHI, Feb 7: Pakistan’s Environment Minister Syed Wajid Hussain Bokhari, attending an international environment meeting here, invited India and the global community on Thursday to trans-boundary cooperation to fight climate change.

Speaking at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, Mr Bukhari said it offered a historical opportunity for the Asian and global leadership to take account of the efforts to identify bottlenecks and show a way forward.

“Pakistan also considers this an opportunity to get insight in looking at trans-boundary environment related issues all over the globe,” Mr Bukhari said. “We all carry the responsibility to make decisions which will ensure effective mitigation and adaptation of climate change while ensuring continued and sustainable development of all nations particularly that of the developing countries.”

He said Pakistan contributes 0.43% of the world emissions, but belongs to the category of regions that would be the worst hit by climate change.

He quoted Pakistani studies as saying the country will experience severe direct and indirect negative impacts of climate change.

“Climate change is causing irrevocable damages like glacier melting, reduction in crop yields; shortening of growing cycle of crops; increased evapo-transpiration; surge in insects, pests and disease among other consequences.”

The indirect adverse effects may include water logging, salinity and desertification.