KIU incorporates Climate Change study as a subject

ISLAMABAD (APP): Incorporation of climate change studies in higher education by Karakoram International University (KIU) Gilgit is a laudable step and will be helpful in addressing the challenges of global warming, said Chief Meteorologist Ghulam Rasul.

Talking to APP, Dr Rasool said the university has set a new precedent for others by introducing a new discipline of `Mountain Area Development’ for students of M.Phil. Ghulam Rasul, who has command over this subject delivered a series of lectures in the university on climate change and its impact on glacier melting in Hindukush, Karakoram and Himalayas.

He sensitised the young practitioners of Forest Department and teachers about the development activities suffering due to climate change. Dr Rasul highlighted that the snowline is shifting upward due to increase in temperature and likewise there is a biodiversity shift on the mountains.

Sharing his research findings on snowline shift, he informed about the interviews of mountain elders how their doors remained snow packed in winter in the past but now hardly any snow rather they receive rainfall even in winter.

Dr Ghulam Rasul emphasized upon the involvement of local communities in development activities through awareness campaign, developing the sense of ownership and promoting the win-win partnerships.

Appreciating the efforts of KIU administration for innovating the syllabi by introducing the subjects to address the new challenges of global warming and climate change posed to the mountainous areas of the north Ghulam Rasul said “this is the first initiative of its kind in the country taken by academia on climate change to connect it to future development projects.”