The Earth’s climate is changing faster than previously anticipated, warns renowned American scientist Prof Dr Geoffrey A. Cordell, who described 2024 as the hottest year in the past 170 years. In a compelling online lecture hosted by the University of Karachi’s International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Dr Cordell called for urgent global cooperation to combat climate change and preserve the planet for future generations.
Citing alarming weather trends and environmental degradation, Dr Cordell emphasized that healing the planet is not just a priority but essential for human survival. “We do not have another planet, and our resources are limited,” he said. He highlighted the increasing intensity of extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, fires, and pollution, exacerbated by rising carbon dioxide levels and shrinking Antarctic ice.
Dr Cordell stressed the importance of integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into the identification and conservation of medicinal plants, which he identified as vital to global health. He warned against relying solely on pharmaceutical companies to reduce disease burdens and instead called for interdisciplinary collaboration and increased funding to address both environmental and health challenges.
With global population growth adding pressure to strained resources, he pointed out that Pakistan is expected to see a 46 percent population increase by 2050, reaching an estimated 372 million people and becoming the world’s fourth most populous country.
In his concluding remarks, Prof Dr Muhammad Raza Shah, Director of ICCBS and UNESCO Chair Holder, echoed the need for proactive scientific engagement in preserving natural resources and safeguarding public health.
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Quoting Native American leader Chief Seattle, Dr Cordell reminded participants, “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children,” underlining the urgency of collective action to protect the planet from further harm.