Campaign Launched to Bring Women to the Forefront in the Fight against Climate Change.

KARACHI -- Oxfam in Pakistan and WWF-Pakistan jointly launched the Climate Sheros campaign to address the climate crisis in Pakistan as it is the 5th most vulnerable country on the Global Climate Index. The campaign provided a platform for climate experts, academia, government representatives and the media to discuss how youth and coastal communities can act as leaders and raise awareness around climate change, empower people and educate the public on their role in tackling the climate crisis. Experts stated, 'In the current era, drastic climate changes are occurring at larger scale and with more frequency. Not only are wild plants and animals at risk but people are the victims of the deteriorating state of nature'. The event held at University of Karachi stressed that without immediate action to reverse climate change, the Earth will become much less hospitable to our modern globalized society. Addressing the event, Senator Sassui Palijo said, 'Climate change is included in almost every party's manifesto.

Sindh is suffering from sea intrusion along the coast and inland water shortages. To address this climate crisis, we are also working on a blue economy and for this reason, we have formed the first ever 15 - member caucus on climate change. Together we hope to develop viable long-term solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change in Pakistan.' In his welcome address, Oxfam in Pakistan's Country Director Mohammed Qazilbash said, 'Much can and must be done to minimize the risk of climate change, and coastal community women are already taking the lead by planting mangroves to protect Sindh's coastline. We need to join in their efforts and raise our collective voices to protect their livelihood. Oxfam is contributing towards mitigating the effects of climate change through several projects. Our efforts are towards improving the resilience of rural communities of Sindh and enhancing their knowledge and skills to prepare for, adapt to and mitigate climate and disaster risks. This includes adopting climate-smart agricultural techniques, diversifying lively hoods, long-term sustainability of the environment and mangrove conservation.

' Dr. Babar Khan, Regional Head Sindh and Balochistan WW-Pakistan said that climate change is a bitter reality that poses a greater threat to our present and future generations. Pakistan is at risk of climate related natural hazards as more than 1,000 people died due to heat waves in Karachi in 2015. Such...