IPS highlights Pakistan’s efforts to improve environmental indexes through forestation, RE transition
IPS participated as a sole think tank from Pakistan in the INETT (International Network of Energy Transition Think-Tank)’s online meeting, which was otherwise participated by energy transition think tanks from across the globe.
The meeting held on September 1, 2021 was chaired by Andrew Rakestraw, the US Presidential Envoy on Climate Change, ahead of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) being held by joint persuasion of the United Kingdom and Italy, with a view to discuss and demonstrate that more responsibility has to be given to developed nations for cutting their carbon emissions.
The case of Pakistan on the occasion was presented by Hamza Naeem from the Energy, Water and Climate Change desk of IPS, who urged the international community to consider climate change mitigation as a global interest.
The speaker apprised the participants that Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its diverse topography. Severe water stress, food insecurity, diminishing livestock, rising temperature levels, frequent occurrence of storm surges and increasing sea levels are some of the challenges that Pakistan is faced with due to climate change. He pointed out that Pakistan contributes less than one percent to global emissions of greenhouse gasses, yet it is ranked fifth in the list of countries which are most affected by climate change, and was already losing approximately $3.8 billion annually due to the phenomenon.
Dilating upon Pakistan’s efforts to mitigate the impact by improving environmental indexes through forestation as well as by setting ambitious targets for renewable energy transition, Hamza stressed that the efforts of Pakistan must be acknowledged and appreciated by the international community whereas other nations must also start considering the potential futuristic impacts of neglecting climate change. “All Pakistan’s efforts would go to vain if the international community does not play its part in the pursuit of mutually assured targets pertaining to climate change”, he concluded.
