Geneva: A recent symposium during the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council focused on the urgent need for climate action in conflict zones, particularly emphasizing the critical situation in Kashmir. The event highlighted the detrimental effects of climate change on this disputed region, calling for international coordination to address the challenges faced by vulnerable communities there.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the symposium was organized by the Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) in partnership with International Action for Peace and Sustainable Development. It featured a diverse group of speakers including environmentalist Talha Tufail Bhatti, Abdul Rehman, research officer from Center for International Strategic Studies, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (CISS AJK), and leaders from the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), Syed Faiz Naqashbandi and Ms. Shamim Shawl. Other notable participants were Dr. Shugafta Ashraf and Eisha Tariq, with the session moderated by Sardar Amjad Yousaf Khan, President of International Action for Peace and Sustainable Development.

The speakers outlined the severe implications of climate change on conflict-affected areas, particularly highlighting Kashmir as a region profoundly impacted by environmental changes. These changes include fluctuating temperatures, melting glaciers, and increased rainfall leading to devastating flash floods. The symposium stressed that these phenomena exacerbate health, food security, and economic instability in the region.

Furthermore, the symposium addressed the critical water shortages and adverse impacts on agriculture in Kashmir, noting the decreasing groundwater levels and climate-induced changes to the region’s wetlands. These environmental challenges threaten the biodiversity and overall ecological balance of the area.

Additionally, the presence of over 900,000 heavily armed Indian troops in the region, especially around the Siachen Glacier and along the Line of Control (LoC), was pointed out as a significant ecological and security threat. This militarization is contributing to the rapid melting of glaciers and destabilizing the region’s ecology further.

The experts at the symposium called for a comprehensive and coordinated global and regional strategy to mitigate the impacts of climate change on these vulnerable communities, with a particular focus on addressing the unique challenges faced by Kashmir.