Environmental Reporting April 02 2018 Syed Muhammad Abubakar

Environmental Reporting April 02, 2018 Syed Muhammad Abubakar Environmental Journalist Communication & PR Specialist South Punjab Forest Company (SPFC)

Good Old Days at FC College! 2

From Young Nation to Dawn 2

Climate Science The first part of the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a clear warning. The report says that: ‘It is highly likely (95 per cent confidence) that human influence on climate caused more than half of the observed increase in global average surface temperature from 1951 -2010’ 2

IPCC wont be boring anymore! 2

Pakistan in the top ten list Germanwatch ranks Pakistan ranked 7 th, losing 10, 462 lives, US$ 3. 8 bn and 0. 6% to GDP, and suffering from 141 extreme weather events (1996 -2015) 6

Our History to Extreme Weather Events Bhola Cyclone 7

Bhola Cyclone exacerbating Fall of Dhaka 8

Investigative Environmental Reporting Pays Off! 9

Climatic Impacts on Agriculture A study by WWF-Pakistan Adaptation in the Indus ‘Climate Ecoregion: Change A Micro- Econometric Study of the Determinants, Impact and Cost Effectiveness of Adaptation Strategies’ highlights agriculture losses upto 8 -10% equivalent to Rs. 30, 000/- per acre, expected across all crops (except rice) 2

Climate Smart Agriculture Hi-Aware Project Site Muhammad Ayub on his four acres has solarized the Persian Wheel. The traditional method helps in aeration of water. 2

Forest Facts Pakistan left with 1. 9% forest cover and witnessed deforestation upto 2. 1% from 19902015 (FAO) 40 million trees through SPFC’s initiative and carbon sequestration of 35 m tons; Over a Billion Trees through Billion Trees Tsunami Afforestation Project; 100 million through Green Pakistan Programme 2

The Ignorance 65% don’t know what the term climate change means – BBC Climate Asia Report 2

Temperature Rise January 2017 was the third warmest January in 137 years of modern record-keeping, according to monthly analysis of global temperatures by NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York 14

The Ignorance - Lahore 2007 (L), urban forest cover: 12359. 71 ha | 2010 (C), urban forest cover: 7965. 28 ha 2015 (R), urban forest cover was 3520. 32 hectares 2

The Ignorance - Islamabad 2

Ramsar Advisory Mission After the 2010 floods, (Pakistan ranked No. 1 on Climate Risk Index 2010, losing US $ 25. 316 Billion), the RAM visited Pakistan and along the Indus river. Presented a practical and cost-effective solution to better manage floods, and regarded high priority wetlands as a means for storage of floodwater. China’s example can be followed in this case, as WWF-China achieved a landmark by reconnecting 40 wetlands to the Yangtze River. 2

Islamic Declaration on Global Climate Change 1. 6 billion Muslims in the world today and that is approximating to over 20% of the World’s population. No one is exempt from the vagaries of climate change and Muslims have to accept their share of the responsibility for bringing this on to ourselves. The 1. 6 billion Muslims cannot exempt themselves from the vagaries of climate change and accept their share of the responsibility in addressing the issue 2

A Tale from Gwadar Climate change affecting Gwadar’s virgin beaches Fishermen getting affected from port activities and lack of freshwater availability 2

A Tale from GB Saleem Khan, Dhamas, Ghizer used to grow grapes, apricots and almonds on his 15 Kanal orchard but everything was destroyed in 2006 and 2010 floods Suffered losses more than Rs. 6 million and given only Rs. 20, 000 compensation 2

Failure to investigate the root cause of the problem by Environmental Journalists Devastation caused by 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 floods highlighted but climate change aspect ignored! Link of floods, GLOFs, deforestation with climate change wasn’t established Adaptation and mitigation measures not highlighted in the media 2

Reasons Climate Change not in priority list of Media Lack of awareness Terrorism Political chaos Economic issues Corruption Lacking the capacity to fully understand the issue and its implications The ‘Breaking News’ dilemma Advertiser’s preferences 2

Reasons why Climate Change should be in your priority list! Climate change a ‘Cross-Sectoral’ issue Triggering Migration Costing the government billions of dollars every year A global priority Adaptation/Mitigation to bring welfare in society Help in creation of low-carbon or zero-carbon economy 2

If you report on environmental issues, then…. Raising climate awareness among masses Conservation of environment Effective law-making on national level Stringent action against violators Greater support on clean energy projects Environment friendly policies Additional funding on climate change adaptation and mitigation 2

If you didn’t report on environmental issues…. then Widespread ignorance Increased deforestation Poor legislation on climate policies Vulnerability to climate change to increase Weak climate case in the global community 2

What you can do now! Write blogs/Op-Ed for media outlets and pitch story ideas to editors Producing short videos and docuementaries on environment for national and international platforms Increased use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other mediums to promote conservation and raising climate awareness 2

What I can do for you! Connect you with editors Connect you with environmental experts Assisting w. r. t social media for conservation Discuss potential story ideas Apply for journalism awards Finding environmental journalism opportunities I can be reached at s. m. abubakar@hotmail. com Twitter @Syed. MAbubakar 2