SC orders govt to set up climate authority
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the federal government to set up an authority under the Pakistan Climate Change Act, 2017, within a fortnight and complete the establishment of funds intended to address the dangers of climate change.
“Considering that failure to establish the authority has serious implications on the fundamental rights of the people of Pakistan, we direct the federal government to establish the authority within a fortnight and thereafter complete the establishment of the fund,” said an order issued by a three-judge Supreme Court bench.
The bench consisted of Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and Justice Athar Minallah
The bench had taken up a petition filed by the Public Interest Law Association of Pakistan through Advocate Faisal Naqvi, which had highlighted the existential threat that climate change poses to the country.
At the last hearing held on March 21, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan had assured the court that a council meeting under the act would be held within a month to address questions regarding the establishment of the authority, as well as the fund.
The AGP explained that the council meeting was held on April 26, 2024, and a summary has been put up by the minister in charge, Ministry of Climate Change for the establishment of the authority, but the authority has not yet been established.
“We understand that climate change is the most serious existential threat to the people of Pakistan, and considering that the climate act was promulgated seven years ago, neither the authority nor the fund has been established so far.”
Additional Advocate General Syed Kauser Ali, representing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Sindh and Punjab, said that they have submitted their strategies regarding climate change.
Regarding Balochistan, the director of climate change submitted that the summary has been put up before the cabinet, and a report to this effect has been placed on record. However, the court decided to resume the hearing again on June 3.
On March 14, Justice Shah had asked the federal government to come up with a report highlighting the initiatives it took to cope with the challenges of climate change in Pakistan, in wake of the massive devastation caused by catastrophic floods in 2022.