For A Safe Future, We Must Work On Environmental Protection On An Emergency Basis: PM
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has stressed the need for urgent measures to deal with climate change and said that for a safe future, work must be done on an emergency basis regarding environmental protection,
The promises made in COP-27, COP-28 and 10 years ago in Paris should be implemented, Pakistan is taking strong steps to deal with climate change, the world must help developing countries like Pakistan.
He expressed these views while addressing the COP-29 Climate Action Summit on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister congratulated the President of Azerbaijan on the excellent organization of the summit and said that it is extremely important to understand climate change.
Most countries of the world are facing losses due to the negative effects of climate change.
Pakistan is also among the countries most affected by climate change.
The Prime Minister said that due to climate change, Pakistan had to face devastating floods in 2022, which claimed about 1,700 lives.
In addition, thousands of acres of standing crops were destroyed and millions of people were displaced.
School buildings collapsed due to the floods and Pakistan suffered a loss of more than $30 billion.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister presented the example of Ikramullah, a student from Qila Saifullah district of Balochistan, and told the participants that this student’s village, house and school were all flooded. The Government of Pakistan provided him with the best educational facilities at Lawrence College Murree and played an important role in changing his life.
The Prime Minister said that if timely steps are not taken to deal with the negative effects of climate change, more losses and destruction will have to be faced in the coming time.
The Prime Minister reminded the international community of their promises to deal with the losses caused by climate change, saying that Kap. The financial commitments made in 28 should be implemented.
The Prime Minister said that we do not want other countries to face a situation like Pakistan’s devastating floods.
He said that Pakistan’s share in global environmental pollution is less than 0.5%, but we are among the countries most affected by the disasters and calamities caused by it.
The Prime Minister said that this situation cannot be dealt with without environmental justice.
He said that Pakistan is taking strong steps to deal with climate change,
We are working on a National Carbon Market Framework, while Pakistan is also keen to invest in alternative energy sources.
He said that the government has taken steps to increase the share of clean sources in its energy mix to 60% and shift 30% of vehicles to electric technology in the next few years.
The Prime Minister said that developing countries like Pakistan cannot take the necessary steps to deal with climate change alone, the international community must help developing countries.
The Prime Minister stressed that the funds provided to deal with climate change should be given as grants and not as loans because developing countries cannot bear the burden of these loans.
The Prime Minister stressed the need to fulfill the financial commitments made in COP 27, COP 28 and said that we are also waiting for the fulfillment of the commitments made in Paris 10 years ago.
The Prime Minister said that the world has now come to know the causes of climate change and solutions have also been found for it,
Now it is time for us to take urgent steps. He said that for a safe future, environmental protection will have to be worked on on an emergency basis.
