SEPA, GMI hold training for journalists on climate change All are equally affecting environment adversely: DG SEPA

SEPA, GMI hold training for journalists on climate change All are equally affecting environment adversely: DG SEPA

PRESS RELEASE
SEPA, GMI hold training for journalists on climate change
All are equally affecting environment adversely: DG SEPA
KARACHI: We all are equally affecting our environment adversely. Therefore polluters should be dealt across the board with stern hands as per the provision of Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014 because nobody is above the law.
This was stated by Naeem Ahmed Mughal Director General Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). He was speaking at a one-day training workshop on climate change for journalists at Karachi Press Club which was jointly organized by Sindh Environmental Protection Agency and Green Media Initiative as part of first activity of Environment Week on Golden Jubilee of World Environment Day.
He further said that being head of flagship green regulator of the province he has to face a lot of pressure whenever he goes for any drastic action against a giant polluter. But, he added, his main commitment is with his duty and will never succumb to such pressures.
Referring to an authentic report he said that nearly one million people of Karachi off and on visit hospitals owing to suffering from air-borne disease. This is just because the level of various obnoxious gases in the air is alarming.
He was of the view that most viable solution to control industrial effluent is zero-discharge policy. Instead of installing a treatment plant to treat their wastewater before releasing it into any water body, industries should install a recycling plant to recycle and reuse it and contribute in combating omnipresent water shortage.
Appreciating the organizers for conducting such informative event he said that in future such activities at mass level will be organized to make people aware on environment and its related issues.
Earlier CEO of Green Media Initiative and renowned environmental journalist Shabina Faraz highlighting the key objectives of the workshop has said that reporting for climate change issues is at preliminary level in our country where a few senior journalists are exclusively attached with it while mostly it is taken as an additional beat.
She further said that she tries to prefer female participants in her training projects just because women have to suffer more from climatic disasters. “Therefore, who can make aware women folk on climate change better than those who literally know their problems and limitations”, she added.
Head of WWF Sindh and Balochistan gave a presentation on biodiversity conservation, issues, challenges and role of media. He said that media can play an effective role if it has in-depth knowledge of current issues related to climate change.
He lamented that most of the violations are made owing to lack of awareness and if communities stay firm no one can harm their surrounding environment.
Focal Person for Sindh Province on Climate Change and Director (Tech) SEPA Waqar Hussain Phulpoto earlier gave a detailed presentation on various parameters of the Draft of Sindh Climate Change Policy and termed it a glaring example of participatory approach as all stakeholders were fully involved in its development.
He informed the participants that some major threats to Sindh due to climate change are: increasing incidences of drought, water insecurity leading to decrease in crop yields, increase in intensity and frequency of heat waves due to global warming, increase in level of air pollution due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, increased risk of natural calamities due to the rising sea level, drastic changes in marine ecosystems and marine life due to rising carbon level and global warming apart from increased incidences of climate induced migrations and subsequent socioeconomic burden.
Sunila Wassey, Deputy Director (Tech) of SEPA gave a presentation on environmental sustainability and said that we need earth to survive and not vice versa. So it is our duty to take care of it for our own safety.
In the end senior ecologist and environmental expert Rafiul Haq shared his thoughts and views through a mesmerizing pictorial presentation leaving the audience flabbergasted with his findings and research. He said that endangered species are in extinction but no any attention is being given at any level for their preservation.
At the end certificates were distributed among participants and CEO of Green Media Initiative presented the traditional gift of Sindh Ajrak to all speakers and honorable guests.