Department of Environmental Sciences, UOP

Spend a billion to explore life on mars, and spend billions to destroy life on Earth!

The Challenge of Climate Change and the Role of Universities
The Need and Importance of a Big Data Bank
Dr. Mohammad Nafees, Department of Environmental Sciences University of Peshawar
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Climate change is a grave global issue of our time and a major obstacle in the struggle for humanity's survival. It is a challenge that simply cannot be ignored. In fact, due to today's greedy human being's interference in the natural environment and making it a target of his desires, wealth, and land, such a dire situation has emerged that there is no other way or remedy to deal with it and restore the Earth to its natural, normal state. What is needed is for everyone to play their role by becoming part of local, national, and global efforts to promote biodiversity. According to current experts in geology and environmental science, Islam has defined for every human being an individual and collective life and the duties connected to them. Adhering to this is the only solution to escape this grave problem. A major reason for this is the low forest cover and the unchecked expansion of growing agriculture. Solutions include controlling population to a certain extent, preventing the migration of rural populations to cities, and strengthening the scientific foundations in efforts to restore the natural environment. That is, by allocating a larger budget required for promoting modern research in botanical sciences, results can be achieved to some extent.

For this purpose, the services rendered by the country's universities within limited resources require further increase and innovation over time, which is a fundamental necessity in the current dire situation. In the fields of botany and environmental sciences, the Department of Botany and the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Peshawar have played an unforgettable role by producing hundreds of M.Phil., MS, and Ph.D. scholars, despite insufficient resources and limited government budget for research. This will be preserved as a notable part of the research conducted at this ancient institution, the University of Peshawar. A significant increase has recently been seen in these academic and research efforts of the University of Peshawar. The University of Peshawar continues its mission in accordance with its motto, gradually increasing the number of M.Phil. and Ph.D. scholars. This is a fundamental necessity in efforts to overcome the current situation. Lest this light should dim. The growing population, continuous increase in transport use, smoke emitted from factories and other various industrial and commercial units (large and small), polluted water, and waste are among its various causes. Meanwhile, poor sanitation arrangements have created all sorts of problems. This is why our sports fields are almost deserted while hospitals are becoming crowded.

Laws exist to deal with this grave situation, as do institutions to enforce those laws. But performance and results can be considered almost zero. Allah Almighty created this vast universe and adorned it along such lines that it fulfills all the needs of human livelihood. But alas, man has become greedy, avaricious, and covetous. By interfering in the natural system, especially in the twentieth century, he created various climatic and environmental problems, making human life, health, and the environment, including his own and his surroundings, unbearable in every respect across the entire world. Now, in the twenty-first century, climate change and environmental issues have confronted human life with severe dangers in the form of various natural disasters. It is a welcome thing that teaching and research are being conducted in educational institutions to deal with these unspeakable conditions. Meanwhile, work is also being done at the government level, with the establishment of various institutions, as well as under the United Nations. But until attention is focused on the root causes, problems will not only remain as they are but will gradually increase.

Until population control, protection of the natural environment, and enforcement of existing laws in this regard are ensured, the protection of human life and the natural environment indispensable to it is impossible. The United Nations Development Programme ( ) has launched a new environmental protection program in collaboration with Pakistan's Ministry of Climate Change. Academic research and experimental work from environmental science departments of the country's higher education institutions have also been included. Professor Dr. Muhammad Nafees from the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Peshawar gave a presentation representing the university at a training workshop for this program. Expressing his views on the project, he explained that in this context, in June 2020, a training program titled "The Role of Infographics for EIMS under the GEF Project" was organized under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC), Government of Pakistan, in partnership with the University of Peshawar. Under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Saleem Janjua, Country Coordinator of the GEF Project (MoCC and UNDP Pakistan), the aim of the GEF project is to establish an integrated and robust Environmental Information Management System (EIMS) for Pakistan. The purpose of the training was to inform partners about the importance, design, and quality of various global environmental information management systems, which are also necessary for decision-making and the establishment of EIMS in Pakistan. Dr. Saleem formally inaugurated the training program and, in his keynote address, gave a brief overview of the environmental information and management initiatives of the United Nations and the Government of Pakistan. He highlighted the importance of an Environmental Information and Management System in the country and praised the efforts of the Ministry of Climate Change and the United Nations in this regard. The Joint Secretary Development of the Ministry of Climate Change, Mr. Nadeem Ahmed Malik, National Project Director (NPD) for GEF-UNDP, also praised the GEF project's efforts for organizing training on this important topic and remarked that an Information Management System (EIMS) is very necessary for Pakistan's environmental stability. During this training program, Professor Dr. Muhammad Nafees from the University of Peshawar gave a detailed presentation on "The Role of Infographics for EIMS." In his detailed lecture, Dr. Nafees explained that Pakistan is currently facing environmental issues but has not developed any specific strategy for them. Various departments in Pakistan are making their own efforts, but a comprehensive strategy is needed to strengthen these efforts. For this, work on big data is essential to properly and effectively address climate variations. Pakistan is divided into twelve climatic zones; we need to know how each zone differs from the other and what the solution is.
For this, each institution will have to consider its own part separately for each zone. For example, what is the role of the environmental agency? If the Climate Change department or the Agriculture department's services are needed, how can they be called upon for assistance? Currently, watershed projects are underway; those planting forests are working independently; those preventing soil erosion are working separately; and it is difficult to determine what our priorities are in which zone and what they should be. Currently, we receive information from one side that Pakistan is among the top ten countries severely and negatively affected by climate change, while from another side, information arrives that Pakistan is in seventh position among the top ten. Now, we do not have a comprehensive system to verify which report is correct and which areas among the twelve zones we should work on first and which later. Secondly, data related to air pollution lies with the environmental agency. Temperature and rainfall information lies with the meteorological department. Satellite images of the land lie with SUPARCO. Information about which forests are where and what changes occur in them lies with the forest department. Similarly, information about which crops are grown where and the reasons for their fluctuations lies with the agriculture department. So, how can all this information be gathered in one place? Then comes the issue of data integration and manipulation to transform it into a meaningful product in the form of infographics. The third question concerns the cost of creating a data bank on such a large scale, but to ensure its sustainability, should it be provided to users for free or a minimal fee charged? According to Dr. Nafees, setting a minimal fee is necessary, but the variety within that fee should be such that the maximum number of people use this big data; this will greatly help maintain the big data. And it will also assist in the research and decision-making process. Therefore, it is essential that we have a big data platform where all line departments contribute their share, update it regularly, and it helps in research and timely decision-making.

Profile No 375

Name: Noor Ul Haq khan
University: University of Peshawar
Department: Environmental Sciences
Country: Pakistan
Goal: The future goal is actively contribute to climate change mitigation through awareness, sustainable practices, and environmental protection initiatives.
Currently Engaged in the study of Environmental Pollution Control Technologies.

Noor Ul Haq Khan is a dedicated student of Environmental Sciences at the University of Peshawar, Pakistan, with a strong passion for tackling environmental challenges. His future goal is to actively contribute to climate change mitigation through awareness, sustainable practices, and environmental protection initiatives. Currently, he is engaged in studying Environmental Pollution Control Technologies, gaining valuable knowledge to address real-world environmental issues. His focus reflects a commitment to creating cleaner, healthier ecosystems. Noor Ul Haq Khan’s journey highlights a clear vision for a more sustainable and resilient future.

Department of Environmental Science:

Mr. Bilawal Raza defended his MS thesis. He was supervised by Prof. Dr. Bushra Khan.

External external was Dr. Liaqat Ali, Director National Center of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar.

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