Pakistan rightly complimented
PRIME Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson while dilating on the subject of climate change at the 76th session UN General Assembly not only urged the world community to make collective efforts for keeping global warming below 1.5 centigrade but also made special mention of the ten billion-tree project of Pakistan saying” I invite everybody to follow the example of Imran Khan of Pakistan who has pledged to plant 10 billion trees.”
Boris Johnson will be hosting a major UN Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland in November.
It is pertinent to mention here that this project has received world-wide appreciation including by the World Economic Forum.
It is indeed a well-deserved complement for Pakistan, particularly for Prime Minister Imran Khan who has been a vociferous proponent of collective efforts by the global community to deal with the phenomenon of climate change ——and in view of the major contributors to global warming not fulfilling their obligations in this regard—has taken a visionary step to mitigate the impact of global warming through growing more and more trees.
This initiative is of great importance for the entire world, particularly those countries who neither have the required resources nor the expertise to handle climate change and its devastating consequences.
Reports reveal that 10 countries are responsible for 68% emission of green-house gases while 100 countries contribute only 3% to the overall count.
Climate change is a consequence of disturbing the balance of natural echo system on the global level and the consequences before us. Climate change is undoubtedly the biggest challenge facing humanity in the 21st century.
Admittedly, the failure of the international community to check the continued rise in temperature caused by the emission of green-house gases can lead to catastrophic consequences.
Therefore, as repeatedly reiterated by the UN Secretary General it is absolutely essential to make peace with the nature, meaning thereby that there was no escape from keeping the rising temperature below 1.5 centigrade as emphasized by the scientists and environmental experts.
The Climate Change phenomenon has already started having devastating impact globally and Pakistan is among the top 10 countries which have been bearing the brunt of this climatic onslaught during the last twenty years.
Pakistan, under the stewardship of Prime Minister Imran Khan, has given top priority to putting in place steps and measures that can be helpful in lessening the debilitating impact of the climate change.
The central theme of the effort is to make Pakistan clean and green. It has launched a number of initiatives including the landmark 10-Billion Tree Tsunami project.
Pakistan can also rightly boast about myriad of other initiatives including green economic stimulus, Eco-system Protection, Wildlife Management, Protected Areas Initiative and Pakistan Clean Air Programme.
Prime Minister Imran Khan also inaugurated the world’s biggest Miyawaki urban forest near Lahore on 9, August as part of monsoon drive under the 1o-billion Tree Tsunami Project.
All the foregoing steps in the words of Prime Minister are driven solely by his commitment to future generations of a clean and green Pakistan to mitigate impact of climate change.
It is pertinent to note that Pakistan besides, the measures mentioned above, has also launched the initiative to produce 60 per cent of all energy in the country through renewable resources by the year 2030.
It has already scrapped two coal power projects which were supposed to generate 2600 MW of electricity and replaced them with hydro-power units.
In recognition of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s unrelenting advocacy regarding collective action by the international community at the Convention of Biodiversity, at the UN General Assembly and the nature-based solutions devised by his government, UNEP approached Pakistan for hosting the UN Environment Day 2021.
Prime Minister Imran khan addressing the moot apprised the world community regarding future plans of this government to deal with climate change, including Recharge Pakistan designed to divert flood water to wetland to recharge water table and Mangroves forestation which absorb carbon besides green-house gases.
Explaining the threat faced by Pakistan due to climate change, he also urged the need for the world to pay attention to reducing carbon emissions which cause glacier melting posing threats to countries like Pakistan and Central Asia where rivers were fed by glaciers.
Pakistan also co-chaired the multibillion-dollar Green Climate Fund, established to support climate actions in developing countries, last year.
Pakistan as Vice President of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has also been playing a pro-active role in shaping the global discourse on fighting global warming.
It is pertinent to mention that although in recognition of the severity of the problem Koyoto Protocol was signed in which the major contributors committed to reducing green-house gases. But regrettably the required cooperation from the participating countries did not come forth.
The Paris Agreement marked a historic turning point for global climate action, as the world leaders were able to evolve a consensus on its framework and goals.
But, regrettably, President Donald Trump pulled out of the Agreement like he did in case of other international commitments by the US. However, it is satisfying to note that President Biden has announced to rejoin the Paris Agreement.
Not only that, in view of the urgency involved he also convened a virtual Leaders Summit on Climate on 22-23 April, 2021 attended by 41 countries including Pakistan. The Summit underscored the urgency and the economic benefits of stronger climate action.
Its deliberations are considered to be a key milestone on the road to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) this November in Glasgow.
In view of the foregoing realities Pakistan can rightly take pride in the fact that it has not only set the ball rolling in the right direction in regards to saving the country from the vagaries of the climate change but has also made a sterling contribution to this global cause.
The initiatives taken by Pakistan are surely worth emulating by the world community, particularly the developing countries.
— The writer is former Director General Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, based in Islamabad.
