From field research to policy engagement : enhancing parliamentary involvement in climate action

This work was carried out under the Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA), with financial support from the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DfID) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.This story of change highlights how SDPI changed its approach of stakeholder engagement and communication that led to the identification and promotion of key stakeholders as champions of policy-to-action for PRISE research in Pakistan. Through these champions, PRISE research has been highlighted at the Sustainable Development Conference (Islamabad), 3rd Science-Policy Conference on Climate Change (Islamabad), as well as in meetings of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Climate Change and meetings of the World Commission on forced displacement. Today, PRISE research is well-recognized among stakeholders in the policy-making arena. As a result, members of the PRISE team are regularly invited to consultative meetings on climate issues to provide feedback. Another example is Dr. Mohsin Iqbal, currently working on IPCC’s special report on arid regions, who has requested that the PRISE team share all its PRISE research on Pakistan, for use in the report as there is limited research on semi-arid regions of Pakistan

Unpacking climate impacts and vulnerabilities of cotton farmers in Pakistan : a case study of two semi‑arid districts

Indicators of adaptive capacity, such as access to financial resources, diversified livelihoods and access to weather information play a major role in reducing vulnerability against climate change. In this study a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods were used to explore factors of vulnerability facing cotton farmers in semi-arid regions of Pakistan. Adaptive capacity is significant in determining the overall vulnerability at the household level.UK’s Department for International Development (DFID

Study of modern nano enhanced techniques for removal of dyes and metals

Industrial effluent often contains the significant amount of hexavalent chromium and synthetic dyes. The discharge of wastewater without proper treatment into water streams consequently enters the soil and disturbs the aquatic and terrestrial life. A range of wastewater treatment technologies have been proposed which can efficiently reduce both Cr(VI) and azo dyes simultaneously to less toxic form such as biodegradation, biosorption, adsorption, bioaccumulation, and nanotechnology. Rate of simultaneous reduction of Cr(VI) and azo dyes can be enhanced by combining different treatment techniques. Utilization of synergistic treatment is receiving much attention due to its enhanced efficiency to remove Cr(VI) and azo dye simultaneously. This review evaluates the removal methods for simultaneous removal of Cr(VI) and azo dyes by nanomicrobiology, surface engineered nanoparticles, and nanophotocatalyst. Sorption mechanism of biochar for heavy metals and organic contaminants is also discussed. Potential microbial strains capable of simultaneous removal of Cr(VI) and azo dyes have been summarized in some details as well

Do natural disasters change savings and employment choices? Evidence from Pakistan

We investigate the economic response of rural households to natural disasters in Pakistan. In particular, we explore to what extent households adjust their savings, and income strategies in response to floods. Using a detailed panel dataset that was assembled concurrently with two major flood events, we find evidence of an economic response, although adjustments appear to be temporary: affected farmers move away from agriculture as an immediate response to floods, but they return within a year. Although flood exposure lowers savings, adjustments in income strategies help farmers to overcome immediate losses and initiate recovery: flood affected households allocate a significantly higher portion of their post-flood income than unaffected households to replenishing livestock and seeds. The findings have policy implications in terms of strategies to develop nonfarm employment opportunities and financing economic migration to reduce income vulnerability

Biopolymers as biofilters and biobarriers

The use of biopolymers is a sophisticated method of soil and wastewater treatment as a substitute for using chemicals, which is a public health concern. A number of mechanisms, such as polymer bridging, polymer adsorption, charge neutralization (including electrostatic patch effects), coagulation/flocculation, and adsorption have been suggested to describe the destabilization of colloids and suspensions by biopolymers. A number of factors, such as sorption capacity of biopolymers, concentration of biopolymers, DO, NO3-, pH, additives, extracellular polymeric substances, and microbial immobilization time, have been optimized to enhance the efficiency of biopolymers in biofiltration/biobarrier systems. Beside this, biopolymers in combination with other polymers, biopolymers, and microorganisms have been successfully employed as biofilters/biobarriers. In order to enhance application and decrease prolonged startup procedures of a biofilter, such systems are often seeded with microbes of interest to expedite quick biofilm development. Upflow packed bed bioreactors using microbial cellulose have greater than 90% denitrification capacity. Fixed-bed bioreactors using magnetic chitosan and polycaprolactone have excellent efficiency to remediate Cu, P, As(V), As(III), and NO3-. Mulch film biobarriers, permeable reactive biobarriers using peat moss, and organic mulch and biotrickling filter systems have been successfully implemented for the remediation of naphthalene, organic compounds, and isopropyl alcohol and benzene-toluene-ethylene-xylene, respectively. Therefore, biopolymers have been verified to be appropriate for remedial properties by regulating the microbial entrapment and adsorption in the biofiltration system. The emergence of these novel biofilters and biobarriers for large-scale effluent treatment and implementation should be accompanied by some key objectives

Private adaptation in semi-arid lands: a tailored approach to ‘leave no one behind’

Globally, semi-arid lands (SALs) are home to approximately one billion people, including some of the poorest and least food secure. These regions will be among the hardest hit by the impacts of climate change. This article urges governments and their development partners to put SAL inhabitants and their activities at the heart of efforts to support adaptation and climate resilient development, identifying opportunities to capitalise on the knowledge, institutions, resources and practices of SAL populations in adaptation action

Pathways to Resilience in Semi-arid Economies (PRISE) CARIAA consortium report February 2014 - November 2018

PRISE (www.prise.odi.org) (2014–2018) was funded through the Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA) programme, launched by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Department for International Development (DFID) in 2013, to fund adaptation research on three ‘hotspots’ of climate vulnerability: glacier-fed rivers, mega-deltas, and semi-arid lands (de Souza et al., 2015). ‘Hotspots’ are defined as areas where a strong climate signal coincides with a large concentration of poor, vulnerable or marginalised people. PRISE developed projects in seven countries with semi-arid regions: Senegal, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Tanzania (until 2015), Pakistan and Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan (since 2016). CARIAA is also rooted in progressive research for development principles, including knowledge co-creation (Harvey et al., 2017) and transdisciplinarity (Cundill et al., 2018), and this is reflected in the approaches and methodology employed by PRISE.This report summarises: the key thematic, national and global findings and policy recommendations; related engagement activities and stories of impact; the approach taken by the consortium and how it was set up and managed; the monitoring of outcomes; the lessons learned; and next steps for how the research findings and recommendations can be used to inform future programming and the climate adaptation and ‘leave no one behind’ agendas

Mapping the cotton value chain in Pakistan : a preliminary assessment for identification of climate vulnerabilities and pathways to adaptation

As part of the Pathways to Resilience in Semi-arid Economies (PRISE) project this detailed working paper analyzes existing data from the cotton and textile sector in Pakistan, and identifies horizontal and vertical linkages within the cotton value chain (CVC). Cotton production in Pakistan has suffered huge losses due to climate extremes in the past 35 years. Analysis of relevant policy reveals that the textile sector is better protected, whereas the cotton production sector faces a less supportive policy regime. The paper includes mapping horizontal and vertical linkages in the CVC, the institutional framework, and the role of vulnerable groups.UK Government’s Department for International Development (DfID