Lahore: Pakistan Red Crescent Society organized a two-day workshop on capacity enhancement under its climate change adaptation program in close collaboration with the German Red Cross supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The workshop was organized at a local hotel in Lahore on Jan 23 -24 for environmental enthusiasts from the top colleges and universities of the city.

The basic purpose of the workshop was to train the PRCS volunteers to be more climate conscious and responsive in terms of adapting and responding to the climatic changes.
The volunteers who are trained to be ‘climate champions’ under the project are anticipated to work on the local adaptation action plans through which they will reach out to their respective communities on climate friendly practices.

Chairman Pakistan Red Crescent Society Dr. Saeed Elahi and Chairman Pakistan Red Crescent Society Punjab Branch Lt. Gen (R) Khalid Maqbool were also part of the event along with the representatives of German Red Cross.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Saeed Elahi said climate change was a universal phenomenon that had impacted all countries in one way or the other and Pakistan was no exception. From blinding smog to abrupt rise in temperature and from floods to famines all are devastating fallouts of climate change, he added.

He further said the PRCS had joined the cause with the collaboration of its partner national society of Germany and was adopting the community-based approach.

“Our commitment to climate change starts with the launch of Climate Advocacy and Coordination for Resilient Action (CACRA) which gives our team an opportunity to ascertain our unified commitment for working on climate change adaptation,” he said.

Lt. Gen (R) Khalid Maqbool said developed countries were using electric vehicles to protect their environment and there was a dire need to shift our technology to environment-friendly ingredients.

He further said the Pakistan Red Crescent Society was creating awareness among students in order to train them so that they can pass the information about climate change in their social circles.

Representative from the German Red Cross also encouraged the ‘climate champions’ to replicate the trainings through their immediate social circle and assured full assistance in supporting their local climate advocacy campaigns.