Pakistan gets two projects to mitigate climate change risks

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam Friday said Pakistan has managed to get two environment friendly projects under Global Climate Fund (GCF) to mitigate climate change risks being faced by the country.

The first eco-friendly transport project of the world Zero Emission releasing Metro Bus in Karachi of worth US$ 50 million have been awarded by GCF whereas Climate Smart Agriculture project was also in the final stages of its launch.

Addressing to a ‘Media Debriefing on COP24, Poland and Way forward for Pakistan’ organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change, Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA) Pakistan and Zalmi Foundation, the prime minister adviser on climate change informed the media about achievements and progress of the country in the 24th Conference of Parties (COP-24) under United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held from Dec 3-14 in Katowice, Poland.

Pakistan had participated with a vibrant team of experts and officials who efficiently engaged in different negotiations held under the conference which really provided the country due consideration and attention of the other parties of the conference to plead her case at the global forum, he added.

“The Billion Tree Tsunami also came under discussion at the negotiations of COP-24 whereas it was the main focus of the government to realize the government that despite Pakistan under direct and stark impact of climate change had spent her own resources to serve the global cause other than demanding any financial assistance,” he remarked.

Malik Amin Aslam said that unlike former COP meetings Pakistan for the first time became member of five committees under the convention along with membership of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board and Climate Finance Committee.

“The earlier 60-member delegation of Pakistan in 2017 sent to participate in COP spent Rs25 million whereas this time it was the smallest ever delegation attending COP-24 with eight members delegation of experts,” he remarked.

Before COP-24, he said Pakistan was in no side happening whereas after participating in the conference 10 side events were attended with a rigorous involvement in the negotiations acclaimed by the world, adding three side events were hence chaired by Pakistan.

“Pakistan launched the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in chair at one sideline event, in the second Climate Smart Agriculture Report and consequently in the third event Eco-system based Adaptation initiative,” he said.

As a result of its effective participation and high level political leadership, Pakistan has been elected as the ‘Vice President and Rapporteur’ of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is the second highest position at the UN Climate Convention,” he said.

He said, “Besides negotiations, I also held meetings with profiled experts and institutional representatives including; former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, dignitaries from Government of United Arab Emirates, Asian Development Bank, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), World Wide Fund, NDC Partnership and many others hence, explained the extreme climate vulnerability of the country.”

The adviser mentioned that Pakistan realized the world about their commitment of US$100 billion to the Global Climate Fund that had only managed to provide US$ 6.5 billion to the developing countries for financing climate change risk mitigating projects.

Malik Amin Aslam said that the negotiations remained intact within the country’s set agenda and priorities during various sessions, conciliation and side events and agreed on the Rule Book pledged under Paris Accord 2015 of COP-21.