Climate Training participants call for coordinated planning, concerted actions against Heatwave.

PESHAWAR -- Journalists, university students and civil society members from different parts of the country have stressed for coordinated planning and concerted actions by government, civil society and private sector against heatwave and its impact in the country.

These views were expressed by them during an online training session on Heatwaves and Climate Change (May 21, 2022) organized by Resilient Future International Pvt Ltd.- an Islamabad based research and training company, says a press release issued here on Monday.

Aftab Alam Khan, Chief Executive of Resilient Future International and lead trainer explained that numerous research reports confirmed that heatwaves had increased due to climate change.

Most notable among them are recent publications of Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). These reports are prepared by thousands of scientists and approved by almost all governments in the world.

For instance, 'Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability' publication of IPCC-AR6 launched in February 2022 had already warned that Pakistan and other South Asian countries would face higher frequency of heatwaves with greater intensity and longer duration.

Aftab Alam underscored disproportional impact of heatwaves on poor and marginalized communities particularly women, children, outdoor laborers, elderly, disabled and transgender persons.

Heatwaves have negative impacts on physical and mental health. Beside heatstroke, heart and kidney patients are also vulnerable. Heatwaves lead to mental stress and increased violent behaviors by individuals and groups.

The current heatwave in the country, according to estimates of Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SPARCO), has caused 10 percent losses in wheat production, which amounts to around 3 million tons of wheat. He suggested water smart and climate...