ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi Sunday said the adverse impacts of climate change needed to be reversed by adopting sustainable consumption, protecting natural water resources, ensuring fertile soil and taking collective transformative action on a global scale by developing partnerships with all concerned authorities to save our planet.
The president expressed these views while offering greetings on the occasion of World Environment Day.
The 2022 World Environment Day campaign — #OnlyOneEarth — calls for collective, transformative action on a global scale to celebrate, protect and restore the planet Earth.
The president said Pakistan was among the worst-hit countries in terms of climate change due to fast melting glaciers, unpredictable rain patterns, dry spells and drying up of our water sources which posed serious challenges to the government and to the people.
Highlighting the need for environment-friendly practices, he said it was achievable by educating our youth about dealing with this challenge and adapting the methods of the green environment today for a better future.
“I am proud to state that in Pakistan, our presidency is the world’s first in becoming ISO certified green, energy-efficient Presidency. With our 1MW solar power project, we not only cater to our power needs to zero net billing but also contribute to the national grid,” he said
He also invited all the institutions to learn from the Green Presidency Initiative and save energy so as to serve the public in an effective manner.
The president further regretted that Pakistan’s forests, biodiversity and wildlife resources had suffered from the adverse effects of climate change, change in land use, and habitat destruction due to population increase.
He urged the need to make continuous efforts through a number of initiatives under long-term planning and programmes to deal with the challenge of climate change.
“Existing meagre forest resources are crucial to environmental stability and needed serious interventions to improve and enhance the overall forestry, wildlife and biodiversity sectors,” he said.
The president noted the United Nations’ World Environment Day (WED) was dedicated to focusing attention and taking positive action on issues related to the environment.
“This year’s theme is meant to encourage people around the world to think about their connection to nature — including food and agriculture,” he added.
He said a healthy environment played a key role in meeting many of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“With eight years left to meet the target date of 2030, the world will need to pick up the pace and put greater efforts in finding better solutions to pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss in order to truly transform societies and economies,” he emphasised.
