Advisor to Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain on Sunday said that climate change has been given high priority in the government 100 days plan. Speaking at the EU and WWF-Pakistan 'Climate Diplomacy Day', he said that population is a major challenge for the country and on issues like climate change efforts must be taken to the field instead of organizing events in conference rooms. He said that Pakistan should institutionalize all the global pledges it made at the global form for their effective compliance.
Ambassador to European Union (EU) Jean Francois said that EU remains committed to Paris agreement and its full implementation while progressing steadily with the finalization of the measures to reduce emission by at least 40 percent by 2030.
He added that by strengthening and widening its partnership, The EU has progressively become the flag holder of the flight against climate change. The objective of this sustained engagement is for the EU to raise global climate ambition together with its partners, in particular those the most exposed to the negative side effects of the climate change, added the EU ambassador.
He further stated that climate change requires collective action and the EU remains committed to continue working hand in hand with Pakistan listed amongst the most vulnerable countries despite low level of its global carbon emission.
Director General WWF Hammad Naqvi emphasized the importance for promoting a common worldwide understanding of the need for action to mitigate climate change. He said that no matter how people perceive the climate change, phenomena and "we are experiencing environmental shift".
The Event brought together people from different background to highlight environmental awareness and to contribute towards a greener tomorrow. WWF- Pakistan and the EU launched a climate diplomacy Art competition with the "theme of challenges of climate change".
The event was started with the participants cycling from Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) followed by a documentary titled "Thank You rain", which is a story of Kenyan farmer who started to use his camera to capture the life his family, village and the damages of climate change five years ago.
After a violent storm that threw him and a Norwegian filmmaker, a transformation took place in him from a father to a community leader and to an activist of the global stage. Dr Ishar wanted that this kind of film with human angel should be made in Pakistan as well.