The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab organized a seminar on “The Climate Nexus” as post COP27 Implementation plan that took place in Egypt 6-18 November 2022. Students, civil society, private sector organizations and policy makers joined together Tuesday, 29th  November,2022.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saleem Haider, Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences,  welcomed chief guest (Mr. Jamshed Iqbal Cheema, Ex-Special assistance to Prime Minister, Food Security and Special Initiative)) honorable guests (Dr.Saeed Elahi, Ex-Chairman PRCS, Prof.Dr. Sajid Rashid Ahmad Ali, Dean, faculty of Geosciences) Prof.Dr. Shoukat Iqbal Malik (Director, VIS, Capital Univesity of Science and Technology), Dr Khalid Mahmood (Head Agri.Tech, Middle East and North Africa, Rothamsted Research, England and Vice chair UPSIGN), Eng Mushtaq Ahmed  Gill (TI), CEO, Sawie, Eng Mujeeb ur Rehman climate smart agriculture expert and researchers joined from Pakistan and other countries.

Dr Adnan Zahid, Assistant Professor/Focal Person, Department of Agronomy, University of the Punjab highlighted the objectives of the seminar as a follow up from the Conference of Parties-27 (COP27). This forum aims for achieving keeping the global temperature under 1.5 C and reduce Greenhouse gasses emissions as part of the Paris agreement. How the research can help addressing the climate change crisis including achieving objectives of food security, green energy , transport and sustainable housing systems. There is a need to develop indigenous solutions to reduce the impact of climate change on vulnerbal communities in developing countries especially in Pakistan.  Also support policy guidelines through evidence-based research and knowledge transfer.try

The Key note speaker, Dr Khalid Mahmood  described the role of United Nation framework convention on climate change and COP27 aims for reducing the Green House Gasses emission and explained the strategies for not increase of temperature more than 1.5 Celsius. He referred the famous quote of U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres , The Humanity has a choice: cooperate or perish.  He elaborated the Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan, COP parties has reached to a position conclusion of establishing a  Loss and Damage Fund (LDF)- Santiago Network for  LDF, Adaptation Fund-US$230 million and need for a Global transformation - low-carbon investments USD 4-6 trillion a year .The next COP28 will take place in UAE that has agenda for stock taking the outcome.

Chief Guest, Mr.Jamshad Iqbal Cheema and honorable Guests (Dr Saeed Elahi and Prof. Dr.Sajid Rashid Ahmad) appreciated the effort of Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and his team for organizing splendid seminar on Climate change and said that biggest threats to the sustainability of the life on the earth is Climate Change.  Climate change affects our life as well as the economy by causing disruption in Earth's climatic processes such as floods, famines, droughts and cyclones among other natural disasters. Pakistan has gone through a worst floods in summer 2022 and heat earlier in spring time affecting at staple crop of wheat. Pakistan has been ranked globally in the top ten countries most affected by climate change in the past 20 years (German watch). Pakistan has lost 0.53 percent per unit GDP, suffered economic losses worth approximately US$ 3792.52 million (The Global Climate Risk Index annual report, 2020).

At last, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saleem Haider Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, thanked the chief guest, e speakers and participants for taking part in the seminar. This is a step towards building collaborations to address the climate change crisis especially affecting our food security. Feeding 225 million people  required a joined-up approach working with research, farmers and industry.  Faculty of Agricultural Sciences has already joined hand with SAWIE and SACAN for reaching out to farmers for knowledge transfer and capacity building in climate smart agriculture practices. The SAWIE digital platform that has an App is providing advice to farmers about weather forecaste, using remote sensing and satellite applications. We are excited to work together to support knowledge transferHe concluded that today enhanced our knowledge about the COP27 goals and future strategies and funding opportunities on Climate change. The presentation on Auto steering technology by Eng. Mujeeb ur Rehman from SACAN highlighted the digital technology and its significance in addressing climate change. At last the panel’s discussion on different aspects of climate changes, its strategies and future aspect broaden your knowledge for overcoming this threat. Eng. Mustaq Ahmded Gill CEO SAWIE said, the world is waiting for the second green revolution that will be a digital revolution that will guide farmers from soil health to entire crop management solutions to reduce GHG emissions. We need to work together through engaging our farmers, especially rural youth and women through supporting university links where Punjab University is already taking lead.