Climate Change has emerged as a major challenge for the global community

Climate Change has emerged as a major challenge for the global community and that Climate Change is an existential threat for Pakistan .

Shakeel Ahmed Ramay, Head of Climate Change Study Centre and Arshad H. Abbasi, Advisor, Water and Energy was speaking at SDPI Seminar on “Institutional Arrangement for Climate Change: Role of the Ministry of Environment” organized by SDPI at the National Press Club here Thursday. Shafqat Kakakhel, Senior Advisor Environment and former Pakistani diplomat and high-ranking official of United Nations, SDPI conducted the proceedings.

Shakeel Ramay presented the cost of damages to environmental and natural resources. He said that estimated costs were as follows: $1867 million for water, sanitation and hygiene, 1,167 million in terms of soil erosion and salinization, $2200 million in terms of air pollution. He said that actual cost of damages to environment and natural resources was even higher. Mr. Ramay said that according to a World Bank Report, Pakistan faced a cost of Rs. 1 billion per day. He said that not enough resources were provided towards protection of the environment. He further elaborated that if the Ministry of Environment is devolved, more problems are likely to evolve and that there is a need for institutions that would make national environmental laws, institutions would be needed for conflict resolution between provinces, representation at conference of parties and regional organizations, transboundary issues between provinces, CDM, and the Adaptation Fund. He said that the Constitution made during a time when Climate Change issues were not in prominence but now there was a need for addressing this issue.

Mr. Arshad Abassi mentioned that the World Bank report that analyzed the environment related issues in Pakistan mentioned that the Environmental protection agencies in provinces are only ceremonial so it is not feasible to leave this responsibility to them. It is also important to consider that environmental issues have no physical boundary, wind and water have their impact across the borders as well as happens in case of India and Pakistan and such issues are taken up in Track-II dialogue e.g. the issue of fog due to excessive use of coal in production of electricity. In December it was decided in bilateral talks and a joint statement was issued that before initiating any project India will share the EIA report of it with Pakistan in absence of the ministry who will evaluate the report is an important consideration. Institutions need to be trained before making any such decision. In case of any such report to be produced on part of Pakistan , will all provinces unanimously make one? Instead of shelving the ministry it is important to review the ministry and evaluate its performance.

Mr. Shafqat Kakakhel mentioned that in a country like Pakistan where livelihoods of most of the people depend on agriculture, repercussions of climate change will be devastating for the economy. Pakistan is rated amongst the most vulnerable countries to climate change; it will inspire drastic changes not only within the ecosystem but it will also have economic, social and political ramifications. As a result of climate change there will be oscillation between floods and draughts that will be directly attributed to climate change. he also gave certain recommendations during his presentation; there should be climate wings in all the relevant ministries and it needs to be integrated in developmental policies, inter-ministerial coordination needs to be improved, all the organs related to climate need to be strengthened, economic policy for climate is needed, Prime Minister’s committee on climate change can serve as an apex body and above all increased cooperation on international, regional and bilateral level is needed. It is important to keep the ministry because climate change is not any one ministry’s business it should actually act as a coordinating body, representation on different platforms and implementation is the job of the federation. Provinces lack the capacity and an informed decision needs to be made.

During the course of discussion it was mentioned that ministry so far could not produce the desired results because it was not provided with the required resources and powers. It was also emphasized that instead of dealing with the issue of climate change on a broad level we need specific strategies, policies and programs on a national level and for that national institute is needed. Performance and accountability mechanisms need to be strengthened and a focal body is needed and now the debate has started and everyone has to collectively look for a mechanism.