Climate changes and irrational use of resources pose serious threat to life on the planet, and chasing growth and development endeavours has put a heavy burden on environment sustainability, said Federal Environment Minister Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi here on Tuesday.
He expressed these views while inaugurating a two-day Global Environment Facility (GEF)-National Dialogue Initiative, held under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment. Additional Secretary Ministry of Environment and GEF Focal Person Imtiaz Inayat Elahi was also present on the occasion. Representatives of the government agencies, international organisations, academics, non-governmental organisations and research institutions are participating in the event.
The minister observed that the degradation of the environment continues at a very fast rate, affecting livelihoods and health, in addition to increasing vulnerability of the poor to disasters and environment related conflicts. In Pakistan alone, the cost of environmental degradation is estimated to the tune of Rs 365 billion per annum, which is 6 percent of the GDP.
According to him, pollution of air and water, climate change, ozone depletion, deforestation, desertification and vanishing biodiversity, land degradation, lack of waste management, lack of urban land use planning and zoning, irrational use of natural resources have resulted in ecological imbalances, threatening life and civilisation. These imbalances, created by man over time, need to be addressed with strategic environmental planning and integrated management immediately.
"It is obvious, the environment does not exist in isolation and there are several other sectors affecting it to a greater or lesser degree. These sectors come under the purview of different stakeholders and there is dire need to address these issues through collective multilateral collaboration. Environmental situation within Pakistan remains no different from that of other developing countries. High population growth rate, low level of public awareness and education, degradation of natural resources, fast urbanisation and industrial expansions are all responsible for the situation in which we find ourselves today," he added.
The minister reiterated that the government is fully committed to mainstream environment into the development processes at all levels. He said as a major step towards achieving this goal, 2009 has been declared as the National Year of Environment and the Ministry of Environment has already initiated a series of planned activities for engaging all stakeholders and beneficiaries towards the common goal of promoting awareness about environmental issues. "Pakistan has also covered a number of milestones, having come a long way from the preparation of National Conservation Strategy in 1992 to the formulation of National Environment Policy in 2005. The Cabinet has already approved the National Environment Policy, Sanitation Policy and Energy Conservation Policy and the time is ripe for launching plans and programmes for the enactment of these policies," he added.
He apprised the participants that their Vision 2030 envisages a developed, industrialised, just and prosperous Pakistan through rapid and sustainable development in a resource constrained economy by deploying knowledgeable inputs, prepare for climate change and its likely unfavourable implications, and minimise wastage of natural resources as an important tool for preserving inter-generational equity.
Afridi said the Ministry of Environment is also being supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in its efforts towards environmental development. "We have already endorsed the entire allocated GEF portfolio. The Ministry of Environment currently has 51 ongoing projects, along with 7 GEF funded projects. Multiple short-term ventures are also underway, through the GEF Small Grants Programme.
We have success stories about promoting sustainable use practices, such as saving endangered species, marketing of medicinal plants, protection of relic forests and introducing policy level interventions for promotion of renewable energy," he added.
According to him, GEF is playing a critical role in assisting Pakistan in its drive towards achieving sustainable development. However, this is just a drop in the ocean and a continuous need is felt for an increase in the GEF portfolio. By strengthening the role of GEF within the country, we will be in a better position to advance our collective goal of protecting our natural resources and leaving a better world for the future generations.
He said that this National Dialogue is a part of the efforts of GEF and provides a level-playing forum for consultations to raise awareness about GEF, strengthen national co-ordination and link GEF priorities and strategies to a broader national environmental planning and development process.
It also offers an opportunity to key stakeholders representing a broad range of expertise, for engaging in a deliberate consultation to arrive at the endeavour of further effectual GEF operations in Pakistan. The minister emphasised that social and natural resource indicators continue to demonstrate the daunting development challenges facing the country.
"There is particular need for strengthening environmental management to reduce risks to health and natural resource productivity, and to sustain economic growth. In the present times, we need to learn from our past, design realistic priorities for the future and strive to achieve them in a sustainable and cogent manner," he added.
He expressed the hope that the substantive outcomes of this dialogue and support of all stakeholders would be able to counter the environmental challenges for making the country environment friendly.
Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Local Government, Community Development and Environment Minister Sardar Dost Muhammad Khosa said the Punjab government would provide all out support for addressing the environmental problems, particularly mitigating the effects of climate change, managing the solid wastes, reducing the air pollution and increasing the forest cover in the province.
UNDP Resident Co-ordinator Fikretakura said the world is facing energy and food crisis that calls for sustainable development. He said the Ministry of Environment has taken a progressive step by declared on 2009 as the National Year of Environment and developing agencies should come forward to make this initiative and success.
The UNDP would further enhance is corporation with the minister for taking mitigation measures for addressing the environmental problem to minimise the threats of climate change. World Bank representative Ernesto Sanchez-Triana, Knowledge Management Advisor Dr Tahmina Akhtar, Ms Mehrunnisa Bashir, Programme Manager GEF Secretariat, and Additional Secretary Environment/ GEF Focal Point Imtaiz Inayat Elahi also spoke on the occasion.
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