Concrete steps would be ensured for implementation of environmental policies to offset the Rs 365-billion environmental degradation cost per annum, ie rupees one billion per day, which accounts for six percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), according to World Bank estimates.
This was stated by Federal Minister for Environment Hameedullah Jan Afridi, while addressing the participants of a seminar, organised to mark the World Environment Day, 2008 here on Thursday.
Capital Development Authority (CDA) member, Environment, Mazhar Hussain, Director General of Ministry of Environment Jawed Ali Khan, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Environment Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan, representatives of United Nations agencies and civil society organisations attended the seminar.
"Agricultural productivity has been affected by the changes in land and water regimes. Dry land in arid and semi-arid regions has become most vulnerable, which has put the country's food security at risk," said Afridi. He further added that the government was fully aware of the environmental issues, affecting our life, health and economy, and committed to tackle these issues on war footing.
"The government of Pakistan is cognisant of the situation and has taken appropriate measures to protect the environment. To achieve this goal, National Environment and Energy Conservation Policies have been framed to reduce carbon emissions and low carbon economy," said Afridi.
This year's theme, "Kick the habit! towards a low carbon economy," has been selected to focus on the pressing challenge of carbon emissions reduction to neutralise climate change. "Global weather and climate change is now regarded as "the greatest challenge facing the world". The average global temperature is increasing, mainly as a result of increase in concentration of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere", Afridi added. He informed the participants that the government has declared year 2009 as "Year of Environment".
"In this regard, scores of steps have been announced by the government, including the issuance of commemorative stamps on environment and holding of international conferences, exhibitions and launching national programmes for protection and conservation of environment in line with the national environment policy, national energy conservation policy and national sanitation policy," he added.
Sharing the details of a recent report, issued by the United Nations, Afridi said that it predicted that a global temperature rise of two to 4.5 degree centigrade was almost inevitable in the 21st century, which would lead to associated changes in precipitation, glacier melt, sea level rise, increase in the frequency of floods, droughts, cyclones etc. Speaking next, Mazhar Hussain said the CDA was fully committed to make the Federal capital green and clean.
"To achieve this, the CDA would not allow setting up of steel industries in the capital. Besides, before planning any infrastructural development, the CDA would present a report to the Ministry of Environment", he maintained.
Speaking on the occasion, Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan said that Ministry of Environment, realising the level of environment degradation, had formulated national environment policy and national energy conservation policy, which recommended measures for addressing critical environmental issues and achieving sustainable development.
"The government is vigorously working to tap the renewable energy resources like wind and solar energy, but the high cost of renewable energy and lack of resources are main hurdles", he added. He further said: "We are promoting various energy efficient measures in the industrial, commercial, governmental and domestic sectors. Under the Kyoto Protocol, Pakistan established CDM Operational Strategy and Designated National Authority (DNA) to promote carbon reduction projects on market based mechanism".
Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan said that Pakistan, like other developing countries, contributed very little to Green House gas emissions in the atmosphere as compared to that of the industrialised countries. "However, tragically, the developing countries bear a disproportionate burden of the adverse impacts of climate change." In the last, the Federal Minister for Environment inaugurated the new website of the Ministry of Environment.