Pakistan’s dairy industry: USAID organises workshop on how to deal with challenge of methane emissions

ISLAMABAD: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) brought together stakeholders from various sectors to develop a programme for reducing methane emissions in the dairy industry of Pakistan.

The USAID organised a workshop aimed at curbing methane emissions from Pakistan’s dairy industry.

The workshop was part of USAID’s efforts to boost climate investment in developing countries such as Pakistan and bring together stakeholders from various sectors to develop a programme for reducing methane emissions in the dairy industry. This programme will be submitted for funding from the “Green Climate Fund,” supporting Pakistan’s efforts to meet its climate goals.

“By reducing these emissions by nearly half by 2030, we can contribute significantly to the global goal of keeping temperature rise under 1.5 degrees Celsius — a key target of the Paris Climate Agreement,” said US Ambassador Donald Blome in his address to the workshop.

With Pakistan housing one of the largest livestock populations in the world, he added that the country’s dairy sector is uniquely positioned to help achieve this goal.

He said that the workshop marks an important step towards addressing this issue and building a more sustainable future for Pakistan.

He said that the event is a critical part of US efforts to boost climate-focused investments in developing nations, particularly those most affected by climate change, like Pakistan.

“Together, we aim to craft a proposal for a major initiative focused on reducing methane emissions from dairy farming, which we will submit to the Green Climate Fund,” he said.

With the growing impacts of climate change, he said that it is urgent to tackle one of its main causes — methane emissions from the dairy sector.

Methane, a gas released by livestock like cows, is much more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in our atmosphere, making it a potent contributor to global warming.

The ambassador said that the United States has been proud to partner with Pakistan since the 1960s, starting with the Green Revolution that significantly improved the lives of many Pakistanis.

“Today, we are investing in clean energy, water, and sustainable agriculture to help Pakistan prepare for a resilient future. This partnership continues under the banner of the US-Pakistan “Green Alliance,” which is focused on promoting sustainable growth and tackling the climate crisis through careful management of natural resources,” he added.

“By bringing together key stakeholders, we aim to mobilize the necessary financial and technical resources to tackle one of Pakistan’s most pressing environmental challenges,” he added.

He said that the dairy industry plays a pivotal role in this mission. We’ve seen how methane reduction can be achieved through innovative industry practices that also improve efficiency. I am confident that a partnership leveraging such innovations can promote growth in this crucial sector of Pakistan’s economy,” he added.

Through innovation, collaboration, and collective commitment, we can overcome these challenges and lay the groundwork for a sustainable dairy industry, he added.

“I am optimistic that our efforts will support sustainable growth in Pakistan’s dairy sector and contribute to global methane reduction goals,” Blome further stated.

Federal Secretary for National Food Security and Research Dr Fakhar Alam Irfan, in his address, expressed the government of Pakistan’s appreciation for the initiative.

“We warmly welcome this initiative from the United States, which aims to enhance our nation’s climate resilience, mitigation, and adaptation efforts,” he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024