Climate Change and Pakistan’s achievements

By: Suleman Ahmad
The world is facing a climate catastrophe that needs to be tackled with an iron hand. Climate change suffered the globe a lot with fires in forests, glaciers melting, and global warming.
Rich nations must show courage and monetary support to fight climate change. Water scarcity is also due to the climate change problem which needs to be immediately fixed. Paris agreement must be fully implemented and richer countries must incentivize those poor countries who are contributing towards the restoration of the environment of the earth. Poor countries like Pakistan are stuck in a debt trap, due to Pakistan’s contribution towards the restoration of the environment and fighting climate change: Pakistan should be given relief in payment of installment of foreign loans and their condition for loans must be flexible. USA, China, Russia, and other developed and rich nations are the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases and CFCs in the environment. They must compel their self to transfer to eco-friendly industries and eco-friendly energy. Pakistan is less than 1% contribution to global warming and greenhouse gases which is minuscule as compared to others countries. Despite this fact, Pakistan is reviving its ecosystem and environment which needs to be followed by the world.
Reforestation and Afforestation are the keys to reviving our environment and keeping the globe clean and green. Planting trees and preserving old trees must be prioritized by governments across the globe. When government takes responsibility and initiatives for this holy cause it will have positive repercussions for the environment. Wetlands must be revived. Renewable energy resources must be used for energy consumption. Green energy like the solar system is a glorious example of energy consumption.
The whole world is facing an issue of “GLOF”. GLOF stands for glacial lake outburst flood. It occurred due to rising temperature and global warming. Recently the shisper glacial lake outburst flood in Hunza dramatically washed away houses and bridges. On July 7, 2019, a GLOF occurred in a remote area of Golan valley in Chitral. With the continuing rains and floods throughout the month, around 40 people died and many structures were destroyed. Pakistan adopted robust action against GLOF to fight climate change and restore the environment.
During the tenure of Imran Khan, the government of Pakistan created 5 lac green jobs through a billion tree tsunami and created 45 national parks, and the ministry of climate change adopted zigzag technology in bricks chimneys to reduce air pollution.
The world must follow the example of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan’s biggest initiative for a clean and green Pakistan _ Billion tree Tsunami to fight climate change. Independent institutions lauded Pakistan’s PM’s efforts for the environment. Pakistan hosted world environmental day in 2021 and world leaders attended the summit virtually and they hailed Pakistan’s efforts in this. UK’s PM Boris Johnson hailed the billion tree Tsunami project at the United Nations general assembly and urges world the to follow the example of Pakistan’s Ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Middle east green initiative is launched by Saudi Arabia and H.E Muhammad bin Salman invited PM Imran Khan to address the MGI summit in Riyadh. Salman said that we are inspired by Imran Khan’s billion tree Tsunami project to transform Saudi Arabia by planting trees. PM Imran Khan presented his keynote address at the MGI summit in Riyadh and share his experience of being the biggest environmentalist in Pakistan. PM Khan lauded Saudi Arabia’s efforts for the environment.
Pakistan’s presidency become the first green presidency by transforming it into a solar system which is hailed by the world and the presidency got a certificate of appreciation for this effort. President Dr. Arif Alvi said in an interview that it will save billions of rupees on energy consumption. He asserted that someone asked me to cut down the trees because the design of the solar system is distracted by the trees then I replied we’ll change the whole design but will not cut the trees. He reiterated that I’ll plant more trees in the presidency as a part of the clean and green Pakistan initiative.
Over the years, Pakistan’s increased vulnerability to global warming has seen natural disasters such as floods and droughts occur more regularly. A recent World Bank report describes not corruption, incompetence, or state negligence but climate change as the biggest challenge for development in Pakistan. South Asia climate change Action plan 2021-25 states that the quality of life in Pakistan is set to decline by 4pc to 5pc by 2030. The report estimates that since 2010 droughts, floods, cyclones, and earthquakes have cost the country more than $14bn, ending up reversing the development gains of the past 15 years. It is stated that 49m people reside in high-risk areas where their health and wellbeing are directly affected by water scarcity, disease outbreaks, and water, and food insecurity.
The report advises Pakistan on its energy sector where carbon emissions are predicted to increase by at least 380pc between 2015 and 2030. Though the government pledged to significantly curtail its carbon emissions. The government needs updated methods to tackle these issues.