TIMES REPORT
XIZANG,CHINA: Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, addressed the 5th China Xizang Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation during his visit to the Xizang Autonomous Region of China. The Forum brought together policymakers, experts, and stakeholders from across the region to discuss cooperation on sustainable development, ecological conservation, and the shared challenges facing mountain ecosystems.
Addressing the Forum, Dr. Musadik Malik said that the gathering was not only a celebration of the shared cultural heritage, diversity, friendship, tourism, and civilizations of the region, but also a reaffirmation of the common responsibility to protect humanity and nature. He expressed gratitude to the Government of China for hosting the Forum and acknowledged the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China, describing China as a trusted partner that has consistently stood by Pakistan through both prosperous and challenging times.
The Federal Minister highlighted the deep geographical and ecological linkages between Pakistan and China through the Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan mountain systems. He noted that Pakistan is home to approximately 13,500 glaciers, making it one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of glacial melt and climate change.
Dr. Musadik Malik warned that rising greenhouse gas emissions and increasing global temperatures are accelerating glacier melt, resulting in devastating floods followed by prolonged droughts. He stated that over the past fifteen years, approximately 6,000 people have lost their lives in flood-related disasters in Pakistan, while nearly 20,000 people have been injured or disabled. He further noted that around 40 million people have been displaced, leading to an estimated 1.8 billion lost school days, demonstrating the profound human and economic consequences of climate change.
The Minister emphasized that glaciers are not merely environmental assets but the foundation of civilizations and regional prosperity. He stressed that protecting these fragile ecosystems requires collective action, scientific cooperation, and responsible stewardship rather than competition over natural resources.
Referring to his visit to villages in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Dr. Musadik Malik commended China’s approach to integrating environmental conservation with economic development. He observed that the region presents an important model where development, prosperity, and ecological protection complement rather than contradict each other, offering valuable lessons for other mountainous regions.
Highlighting the need for greater regional cooperation, the Federal Minister observed that while individual countries are conducting research on glaciers and climate change, there remains a significant gap in coordinated transboundary scientific collaboration. He stressed that countries sharing the Himalayan ecosystem must jointly generate knowledge and solutions to address common environmental challenges.
To strengthen regional cooperation, Dr. Musadik Malik proposed three collaborative initiatives. The first was the establishment of a Virtual Green University, bringing together universities, researchers, scholars, and students from across the region to undertake joint research on glaciers, climate change, ecology, economics, and sustainable development. He noted that such a platform could also generate knowledge valuable for addressing future challenges in other fragile ecosystems, including the Arctic.
The second proposal, titled Green Fields, aims to create a regional platform that connects young entrepreneurs with financial support and investment opportunities to develop innovative climate solutions in renewable energy, battery technologies, climate-resilient infrastructure, safe drinking water, and other green technologies.
The Minister also proposed the creation of a Green Cloud, an open platform through which publicly funded scientific research and intellectual property generated by universities could be made freely accessible to innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs.
Concluding his address, Dr. Musadik Malik called upon all participating countries to work collectively to protect glaciers, preserve shared ecosystems, and safeguard future generations. He stressed that climate action requires shared responsibility, scientific cooperation, and a common commitment to ensuring that development and environmental protection progress hand in hand.
Leave a Reply