The ‘National Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production for preparation of National Action plan’ two day 3-4th August 2016 workshop was organized by Ministry of Climate Change and United Nation Environment Program, Regional office for Asia and the Pacific and the European Union, Switch Asia Program on 3rd August 2016.
“Pakistan is fully committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda for 2030. Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was present at the UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda in New York in September last year, and in his address pointed out that the global SDGs Agenda complemented Pakistan’s “Vision 2025?, which was reflective of the country’s development needs and priorities and provided a policy framework for the integration of the new goals in Pakistan’s national economic and development planning. The SDGs were formally launched in Pakistan less than a month later”, said by the Federal Minister while addressing the audience.
“On 19th February, 2016, Pakistan registered an historic first. It became the first country in the world whose National Assembly passed a unanimous Resolution adopting the SDGs Agenda as its own national development agenda. The Resolution not only reflects the broad political support for the SDGs, but also clearly indicates that SDGs Agendais now Pakistan’s Development Agenda.The SDGs are PDGs, Pakistan Development Goals”, informed by the minister.
SDG 12 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns. To meet this goal, it is of course necessary to make fundamental changes in the way societies produce and consume goods and services. All sections of society, including Government departments, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and individuals and international agencies, must play their part in bringing about this transformation to sustainable SCP patterns, which is an essential requirement of sustainable development”, Highlighted by the minister.
“Sustainable consumption and production in the Pakistan context means efficient, appropriate and affordable use of our natural resources which reduces our vulnerabilities to climate change and helps achieve food, water and energy security. This approach will minimize pressure on natural resources and help in achieving sustainable development”, said by the minister
“Sound management of natural resources requires effective environmental governance, which can bring about a paradigm shift from environmentally-insensitive development to inclusive, equitable and balanced economic growth, driven by sound natural resource management, afforestation, biodiversity conservation and resource efficiency”, told by the minister .
“As a country which is ranked eighth on the list of countries most affected by climate change, Pakistan needs to adopt this “Green Growth” concept to achieve SCP Goals, involving implementation of policies that promote climate-resilient, environmentally-sustainable economic progress and foster low?carbon, socially-inclusive development at the same time.?It must be recognized, however, that conversion to a “Green Economy” also requires major economy-wide structural and technological changes, comprising the ‘greening’ of key sectors, such as energy, urban infrastructure, transportation, industry and agriculture, ‘greening’ of investments, creation of ‘green’ jobs, and facilitation of ‘green’ trade”, highlighted by the Federal Minister.
“Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) agenda and drafted National Sustainable Development Strategy ( NSDG) would be incorporated in policies. Pakistan needs large-scale investments in “Green Growth”, including green technologies, climate-resilient buildings and infrastructure development which utilize less materials and energy and produce less emissions and waste. We are raising awareness and building capacity for efficient utilization of resources and SCP at national and provincial levels and mobilizing domestic financial and human resources for this purpose. The focus of our efforts is not limited to just improving production, but also to support consumers to move towards sustainable consumption choice.
“ the Prime Minister’s Green Pakistan Program, which will be formally launched very soon, also aims at arresting natural resource degradation and mitigating climate change impacts. It envisages plantation of more than 100 million trees over the next five years all over the country. Apart from reclaiming and developing forest areas, the Program also seeks to protect and manage wildlife resources of the country, in line with the best international practices. The initiative will ensure far-reaching reforms in forestry and wildlife sectors and make significant contribution to the ecology, biodiversity, food security and economic growth of the country”,informed to audience by the minister.
“The Green Pakistan Program reflects the commitment of the present Government to effective environmental governance, including sound management of natural resources, which will lay the foundation for achieving sustainable development and green growth, for the benefit of our future generations”, said by the minister
Mr.Yousaf Naseem Khokhar secretary planning, development and Reform said while addressing the audience government of Pakistan believes that sustainable consumption and Production is important for Sustainable development. SCP has direct relation with climate change, which is a global issue. The pillars of vision 2025 is aligned with SDG.SCP is mandatory to achieve good health, sanitation, reducing environment degradation and sustainability for future generation. Ministry of Climate Change is doing great efforts to ensure that country is in position to combat all climate change disasters.
Mr.Neil Buhane UN Country Resident also addressed the audience and said Pakistan has huge population that is a big challenge.The governments vision 2025 is similar to SDGs. The plastic bags are threat to environment .The imposition of price for getting plastic bags can reduce its use”.
The audience were also addressed by the Charge da Affair of European Union delegation in Pakistan, DG (Env) Irfan Tariq, Janet Salem Program Officer United Nation Environment Program. A large number of people from government officials, NGOs, academia and media participated.
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