A press brief was arranged by Ministry of Climate Change about Pakistani delegation participation in COP22, Morroco.
“Pakistan’s participation provided an opportunity to signify achievements made in addressing climate change despite being adversely impacted”, said by the Federal Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid.
He also said that the world community was informed that Pakistan’s contribution to global warming is minimal. We emit less than 1% of total annual global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet we are ranked amongst the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change. Pakistan today faces several major risks relating to climate change, including glacial melt, variable monsoons, recurrent floods, rise in sea level, higher average temperatures and higher frequency of droughts. Millions of people are affected and colossal damage is caused on recurring basis.
“These threats pose major survival concerns for Pakistan, particularly in relation to the country’s water security, food security and energy security. They also have enormous adverse consequences for all socio-economic sectors, impeding our ability to promote sustainable growth and development and economic prosperity of our people “highlighted by the Minister.
He further added that we also informed the world that Pakistan being a responsible member of the global community has taken substantial steps especially during 2016 despite these challenges, which are greatly hampering our developmental needs, It will also enable us to contribute to the global mitigation efforts against climate change and keep the temperature rise below 2-degrees Celsius. These include: Ratification of Paris Agreement. The ratification instrument has been deposited with UN Secretary General’s Office, approval of Pakistan Climate Change Act 2016 by the cabinet for presentation in Parliament. The historic Pakistan Climate Change Bill, which will establish a high-level, policy-making Pakistan Climate Change Council, along with the Pakistan Climate Change Authority, to prepare and supervise implementation of adaptation and mitigation projects in various sectors. Finalization and submission of Pakistan INDCs to the UNFCCC Secretariat, which will serve as our climate change agenda, taking into account the latest situation relating to our development needs and strategies. It includes updated projections of greenhouse gases emissions and our national
ambition to reduce these emissions, along with associated financial and technical implications. Pakistan has also developed a National Sustainable Development Strategy, and 19th February, 2016 Pakistan became perhaps the first country in the world whose National Assembly passed a unanimous Resolution adopting the SDGs Agenda as its own national development agenda. Pakistan Parliament is also the first Parliament in the world to become completely ‘’green’’ by converting 100% to solar energy. As part of our plans to promote renewable energy, we are constructing the world’s largest 1000 MW solar park. To promote effective conservation and efficient use of energy we have also enacted the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, 2016.Launch of PMs Green Pakistan Programme to be implemented all over the country to the the tune of Rs. 2 billion.
He also briefed about his engagements during COP-22 and highlighted side events attended by him during the Conference. Then he informed about the outcomes of COP-22 that includes Marrakech Action Proclamation for Climate Change and Sustainable Development, parties set a rapid deadline of 2018 to complete the rule book for operationalizing the Paris Agreement to ensure confidence, cooperation, progress across key areas of climate action, including climate finance, adaptation, capacity building, technology and gender-responsiveness, Roadmap for climate finance: formulated and discussed: How to get to the $ 100 billion mark, adaptation Fund was able to survive despite extensive resistance from some developed parties and Warsaw Int. Mechanism (Loss & Damage): 5 year plan finalized.
While answering question answers, he said we included in the delegation those NGOs which are registered in UNFCCC .He also said that we need to work on energy efficiency and conservation as well. He also said while answering question about cutting of trees in Islamabad that Mayor of Islamabad has signed Green Charter to protect and conserve trees in Islamabad.
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