Tourism’s carbon emissions measured in a landmark report launched at COP25 News Desk Madrid, Spain: The world tourism watchdog has called for enhanced cooperation between the transport and tourism sectors to effectively transform tourism for climate action. Transport-related emissions from tourism are expected to account for 5.3% of all man-made CO2 emissions by 2030, up from 5% in 2016, …

Policymakers, researchers and game changers from 22 countries will brainstorm on issues related to economy, trade, education, pollution, water management, emerging technologies, governance, cyber security, endangered languages, regional cooperation, human rights, women and media etc in 35 sessions.   Ali Rahmat    ISLAMABAD:  What the Fourth Industrial Revolution and digital era is about? And how it has transformed society, and every strata …

By Ali Rehmat China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has strengthened decades-old Sino-Pak economic relations. The $60 billion CPEC project is part of the $5 trillion One Belt One Road (OBOR) that China considers as ‘project of the century’. OBOR links 68 countries and facilitates trade and connectivity in Asia, Europe, and Africa through mega projects of roads, bridges, energy, ports, railways …

A new book highlights gaps between aid agencies and communities, the efficacy of aid in poverty reduction and human development Herald Report The debate over development strategies and policies being applied in the developing countries to eradicate poverty has been going on ever since the introduction of the neoliberal economic agenda and the structural adjustment programmes. Independent economists and academics …

The cryosphere thinning results in the loss of rare species and their habitats, changes in infrastructure, food, and water: Dr Sitara Parveen Herald Report The thinning of the cryosphere is a major threat to the livelihoods of the mountain communities in north-western Himalaya, Trans-Himalaya, the Karakoram, and Hindu Kush mountain ranges. There is a need for adaptive strategies to cope …

Use of cat’s eyes or road studs as a speed breaker is causing serious environmental hazards and economic losses By Ali Rahmat Everywhere in the world, the cat’s eye is used for an indication of the limits of roads. It guides the drivers on where the road ends and what are the limitations of driving in a specific lane. Unfortunately, …

Bank of Karomber Lake. — Photo by author “My Love!I am the receding sunshine on the mountains,the running wind on the lake,the fading chant of the shepherd.I’m the story that’s overDon’t call me or recall me for I’m gone now once and for all.”(Translated from a Wakhi song) As the blue waters of Karomber Lake bathe in the sun’s golden …

    Herald Report Conservationists, ecologists, and environmentalists have called for enhanced efforts and awareness about the impact of climate change on snow leopard and its habitat. The impact of climate change, unmanaged tourism, and human development have affected the snow leopard and its fragile ecosystem, they noted while speaking at different events organized by the Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF) …

News Desk Observatories from all around the world, as well as other stakeholders from the public, private and academic fields have discussed the latest experiences in monitoring tourism impacts at destination level through the application of traditional and non-traditional data sources. The World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) hosted over 100 experts to its global …

By Shafqat Aziz By leaving the posh but artificial localities of Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, and travelling almost 200km towards the north, you enter a new land now known as Gilgit-Baltistan. It’s a land full of natural marvels, highest mountains of the world, the splendid glaciers, breathtaking rivers and hills and plains habitats of many of the world’s …