Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Climate Change Romina Khurshid Alam on Tuesday called for engaging youth and seeking regional solutions to climate challenges such as global warming, greenhouse gases, deforestation, floods and other natural and human-induced disasters.
It is the Pakistani youth that we pin our hopes in to generate awareness on climate change and take steps to reduce the risk, she said.
She was addressing as Chief Guest a seminar organized by the National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA), in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) & Bahria University (BU), to mark the World Environment Day (June 5, 2024).
The theme of the seminar was “Coastal Erosion Management, Mangroves Preservation & Ecosystem Rehabilitation” under the overall United Nation’s theme of “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience.”
The event brought together distinguished speakers including heads of various organizations, diplomats, environmental experts, activists and students and they shared their views on this important subject and called for quick and result-oriented steps in this regard. A special message by the Chief of Naval Staff was read on this occasion.
Among the guests included Ambassador of Norway Per Albert Ilsaas, DG Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Ms. Farzana Altaf Shah, Executive Director of COMSATS Ambassador Muhammad Nafees Zakarya, WWF representative Mr. Ibrahim Khan, President and Executive Director of Pakistan Observer, Mr. Gauhar Zahid Malik, Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) High Commission of Sri Lanka, Mr A Christy Ruban, environmental expert and lecturer at NUML Sidra Riaz and President of COPAIR Ms. Amna Munawwar Awan. They commended the NIMA for organizing a seminar on an important subject that deals with the future of Pakistan.
Romina Khurshid Alam reiterated the government’s commitment to restoration of the ecosystem and protection of the environment for future generations.
She said global warming, greenhouse gases and carbon footprint were posing serious challenges to the ecosystem and Pakistan despite its less than 1pc share in GHG was facing its disastrous impact in form of heat waves, forest fires, floods and smog, etc. It is time we include climate change in our curriculum and sensitize youth on it, she said.
She appreciated NIMA in gathering key stakeholders and for holding an impactful seminar, particularly for involving students through competitions on related themes. She said that the policy and scientific solutions discussed today were useful and would be carried forward for fruitful efforts in the future. Romina also focused on the importance of SDGs and that Pakistan must incorporate SDGs in all policies.
President of NIMA, Vice Admiral (R) Ahmed Saeed HI (M), while expressing gratitude to the guests drew their attention to the UN theme of 2024 “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience,” which he said was linked with environmental challenges of coastal erosion and ecosystem degradation.
He emphasized the urgent need to address environmental challenges in Pakistan, particularly coastal erosion, mangrove preservation, and ecosystem rehabilitation.
He called for efforts like the Mangroves for the Future initiative and the establishment of Marine Protected Areas which demonstrated Pakistan’s commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG Goal 14. To achieve these goals, a centralized approach was proposed, along with leveraging international financial instruments like SDG bonds. President NIMA also called for collaboration and innovation on World Environment Day to ensure a sustainable future for Pakistan and the planet.
Mr Gauhar Zahid Malik in his speech appreciated NIMA and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) for their efforts in bringing together key stakeholders as well as the students who are the future of the nation on a platform. This has provided us all with information and motivation to stand up for the protection of our green forests, oceans, glaciers and mountains, he said.
He reaffirmed Pakistan Observer’s commitment for a dynamic role in the cause of environmental protection with NIMA and other partners.
Pakistan Observer stands with NIMA, BU and the WWF he said and proposed the creation of a committee to further enhance media engagement in issues related to climate change and the environment. Pakistan Observer would like to play an integral role in setting the course for others to follow,” he said.
DG EPA Farzana Altaf Shah highlighted the environmental issues like agricultural land degradation, water contamination and pollution. She stressed that the solutions of these problems lie within our hands and we need to take responsibility for protecting our environment.
She lauded NIMA for conducting a meaningful activity and said she was impressed by student’s presentations.
