International Workshop on

 Global Environmental Conflicts;
Change and Adaptation
(March 6-9, 2008)

Jointly organized
By
      Institute of Environmental Studies
 Area Study Centre for Europe
       University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270
 Venice International University, Italy
      Higher Education Commission, Pakistan

Patron in chief
Prof. Dr. Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqi
Vice Chancellor
University of Karachi

Advisor
Professor Dr. M. Altaf Khan

Organizing Committee
Chairman
Dean, Faculty of Science
University of Karachi

Principal Organizer
Dr. Moazzam Ali Khan
Director
Institute of Environmental Studies
University of Karachi

Co- Organizer
Prof. Dr.  Naveed Ahmed Tahir

Director
Area Study Centre for Europe
University of Karachi

International Collaborator
Prof. Ignazio Musu
TEN Centre
Venice International University
Members
Prof. Francisco Leita
Dr. Ilda Mannino
Dr Omme Hany
Ms. Suriya Jabeen
Waqar Ahmad
Syed Azhar Ahmad
Dr. Imdad Shah
Ms. Shamim Zia
Dr. Rubab Hassan

Population, poverty and environment have been directly and indirectly responsible in one way or the other for the global conflicts related to environment and pose serious problems for the peace makers for resolving them. Population explosion and poverty while negatively impacting the development process would create global un-sustainability through the generation of conflicts among the nations of the world. Since the end of Second World War natural resources and ecosystem services have been under immense pressure threatening development and public health and even survival of human species. Water shortages, soil exhaustion, loss of forests, air and water pollution and degradation of coastline, marine food safety and security affect many areas and a very large part of the worlds population. Most developed economies currently consume natural resources much faster than they can generate. Most developing countries with rapid population growth face the urgent need to improve living standards. As we humans exploit nature to meet present needs, are we destroying resources needed for the future?
With each passing day  the environment is getting worse in a variety of ways.
Public Health: Unclean water and poor sanitation kill over 12 million people each year, especially in developing countries.
Food supply: Food security and safety are the major challenges faced by the developing countries.
Fresh water: The availability of fresh water is finite, but the demand is rapidly increasing as the population grows and use of per capita rises. By 2025, when world population is projected to be 8 billion, 48 countries containing 3 billion people will face water shortages.
Coastlines and Oceans:     Half of all coastal ecosystems are under pressure by high population densities and urban development. Ocean fisheries are being overexploited and fish catches are declining. Marine pollution and marine food safety is a matter of international concern.
Forests: Nearly half of the world’s original forest cover has been lost thus reducing one of the major sources of world economic development activity.
Biodiversity: The earth’s biological diversity is crucial to the continued vitality of agriculture and medicine and perhaps even to the life on earth itself. Yet human activities are pushing thousands of plants and animal species into extinction.
Global climate change: The earth’s temperature is rising due to green house gas emission, largely from burning fossil fuels. Global warming also could cause droughts and disrupt agriculture.
The key to resolving global environmental conflicts (as a possible source of wars) is equitable and sustainable use of natural resources.
If every country made a commitment to population stabilization and natural resource conservation the world would be better able to meet the challenges of sustainable development and resolution of environmental conflicts.