Joint strategy a must for coping with climate change: US scholar   

Islamabad: The Western countries should include Afghanistan in the efforts for mitigating the impacts of climate change on the world and sufficient support be provided to Afghanistan as it has done nothing in creating changes in climate changes.

This was stated by a US scholar and climate change activist, Dr Jonathen Syles Naele in an exclusive interview with this scribe. He had come to Afghanistan for attending a 3-day International Conference on Climate Change organised by Nangrahar University, Jalalabad, in collaboration with Afghanistan Ministry of Higher Education here in Jalalabad.

He said that recently a big event was organised on climate change in UAE but Afghanistan was not invited which is not fair. Every country is a stack holder in controlling climate change, he added.

Dr Jonathen further said that 43-years war was imposed on Afghanistan by other countries and now it is the responsibility of the international community to take concrete measures for rehabilitation of the people of Afghanistan. He said that the world has become a global village and Afghanistan should be included in the mainstream.

Elaborating the worst impacts of climate change on Afghanistan, Dr Jonathan said that that due to continuous drought in the region the problems of the people have been increased manifold. He called upon the United Nations Organisation (UNO) to announce a ‘martial plan’ for the uplift of Afghanistan.  He also appreciated the efforts of university professors and government officials for organising an international conference on climate change. He called upon the expatriate Afghans to work of the advancement of Afghanistan. He also expressed the hope that very soon Afghanistan will be in the rank of developed countries as the people are very hard working and committed.

He called upon the academia to sensitise the people of Afghanistan on climate change and devise a comprehensive strategies for mitigating its effects.

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He said efforts are underway to connect Afghanistan with different bodies of scientists in the world who will suggest strategies for creating climate friendly development opportunities.

Dr Jonathen suggested the government officials to take steps for planting more trees and declare different areas as national parks in all provinces of Afghanistan.

He appreciated peace and hospitality in Afghanistan. All the scientists should visit Afghanistan for making contribution in the development of Afghanistan. Dispelling the western media propaganda, he said that ground realities are quite different in Afghanistan. He said that the scientists should take concrete measures to mitigate the effects of climate.

He also suggested the Afghan government to go for hybrid crops as it ensure more yield. He urged the government to pay attention for promotion of horticulture.

To a question, Dr Jonathen said that that the Afghan government should create opportunities for storing the rain water and its utilization for agriculture purposes.

To another quarry, he said involve local media in providing awareness to the people of Afghanistan on climate change. He further said that everyone is a stack-holder in the mitigating the impacts of climate change. The comity of nations should fully support Afghanistan in human related issues like climate change, he added. He further said that a comprehensive social media campaign on climate change is need of the hour.

“Such conferences will play a vital role in providing solutions to the challenges faced the people of Afghanistan.”

Referring to the findings of the World Health Organization (WHO), he said that thousands of individuals succumb to the detrimental impacts of climate change annually.

He also said that he is going to write a book on the worst impacts of climate change in Afghanistan.