KARACHI: The upcoming carbon taxation measures in the European Union countries might endanger Pakistan’s exports to those countries if we continue to insist on producing electricity from fossil fuels such as coal, speakers said an event, which observed that role of subnational and grassroots level groups is crucial in building resilience against climate resilience and ensuring a just transition to renewable sources of energy, experts said
At the event, the experts drew comparisons between the impacts of energy-related projects in Tharparkar district in Sindh, Pakistan, and Eastern Visayas region in the Philippines, and highlighted the need for inclusive and community-driven approaches to understand and address these impacts.
The event was jointly organized by Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development (PRIED), a think tank based in Islamabad, and Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), a non-governmental organization based in the Philippines and working on climate, energy, and low-carbon solutions.
Dr Khalid Waleed, an energy economist focused on the social and economic disparities within Pakistan. He explained that upcoming carbon taxation measures in the European Union countries might endanger Pakistan’s exports to those countries if we continue to insist on producing electricity from fossil fuels such as coal.
“Communities directly affected by the energy projects running on coal, local government representatives and industrialists must collaborate to ensure an inclusive and just energy transition,” he said.
Rimsha Rehan, an energy finance analyst, explained how coal mining and coal-based power generation are causing numerous livelihood losses, health hazards and environmental problems in areas such as Tharparkar where coal development has been going on for quite some time. “Communities directly affected by land degradation, water contamination and health crises - especially women and children - must be at the center of decision-making on how to address these problems while phasing out coal and transitioning to renewable energy,” she said.
Lidy Nacpil, a senior environmental justice activist, based in the Philippines, called for substantial climate finance commitments. “The global North owes trillions of dollars - not billions of dollars - to the global South so that practical measures can be taken for climate adaptation, climate mitigation and compensation for loss and damage caused by climate change. “Local and national governments must ensure that the voices of vulnerable communities are included in ensuring equitable climate action,” she stated.
Michael Sinocruz, a government official from the Philippines, talked about the need to learn from past policy shortcomings so that social acceptance of renewable energy can be fostered. “Massive awareness campaigns, provision of alternative livelihood options for those affected by renewable energy projects, and international funding for building climate-resilient communities are essential for an effective transition from fossil fuels to renewables,” he said.
Romil Hernandez, an environmental activist from the Philippines, highlighted the Eastern Visayas region’s vulnerability to typhoons and stressed the importance of community-driven climate action to ward off these disasters. “Local leadership and renewable energy initiatives can reduce coal dependency, save public funds, and support social sector development,” he remarked.
Its participants agreed that subnational actors and community organizations must take a lead in demanding, advocating for and formulating sustainable energy policies and ensuring a just energy transition.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
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