Pakistan incurring 8pc of budgetary resources to address climate change
Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Mushahidullah Khan delivered country statement at highlevel segment of Conference of Parties 23 being held in Bonn Germany. First he congratulated the Government and people of Fiji for assuming the presidency of this COP and conveyed his appreciation to the Government of Germany for their support in hosting this conference.
He then highlighted that the recent climate disasters across the globe, sadly, are a stark reminder of the impact of climate induced natural disasters on lives and livelihoods of people. The negative effects of climate change not only undermine socio-economic development, they also reverse the gains made over decades, pushing people back to poverty, hunger and disease.
He further said although Pakistan's contribution to global warming is minimal, yet we face huge impact of changes in global climate. He also emphasized that several scientific studies categorize Pakistan as extremely vulnerable. Recurrent floods, heat waves, cyclones, drought, desertification, glacial-melt and sea level rise are some of our biggest challenges.
He also told the participants that the threats of climate related challenges have far-reaching impact on the government's efforts to reduce poverty, enhance food security, improve health care, and improve access to energy. Nationally, we are already incurring 8% of our budgetary resources to address Climate Change, creating extreme pressures on our economy.
He also declared that given our Climate Change challenges, adaptation and climate resilient development remain our essential priorities. In this context, we have taken steps both at national and sub-national levels. He also highlighted that we have adopted a comprehensive approach on disaster risk reduction and management and structured policies and institutional arrangements for disasters, mitigation, rescue & relief, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
We are also working correspondingly hard in bringing about mitigation within the domains of energy, trans-
port, town planning, agriculture etc. Energy sector remains a high priority and we are working on altering the energy mix; develop renewable energy sources and increase the share of nuclear and hydel power to reduce carbon emissions.
It was also told by him in his address that in line with our commitment to support global efforts towards Climate Change, Pakistan ratified the Paris Climate Agreement last year and
also submitted our instrument of acceptance for Doha Amendment to Kyoto Protocol. Given that we only have one year to finalize discussions on the implementation of Paris Agreement, we must move from discussions to work on the ground.
We need an outcome that will foster greater progress and concrete actions towards enabling environment for implementing climate action in developing countries.