Ecological improvement

In view of the fact that climate change is among few of the most significant challenges that the contemporary world faces, Pakistan has made a remarkable achievement by attaining an overarching Sustainable Development Goal –13 Climate Action, says the UN Annual Sustainable Development Report 2020 launched recently. Being among countries most vulnerable to the harmful phenomenon, this is a milestone for Pakistan. The SDR is an annual global assessment of countries’ progress towards achieving the SDGs.

The Adviser to the PM on Climate Change, Malik Aslam, has said what has made the achievement more significant is that the country has attained the crucial Sustainable Development Goal ‘Climate Action’ 10 years before the deadline of 2030 for the implementation of the 17 SDGs. He said serious handling of the issue by the government of PM Imran Khan made it possible to achieve the SDGs. He said some of the salient features of the government’s successful policy were low carbon growth trajectory and appropriate measures and initiatives aimed at adaptation and mitigation that contributed to bringing the deteriorating climate change situation under control. Mentioning initiatives like the Billion Tree Tsunami Programme, Clean Green Pakistan Initiative, Clean Green Pakistan Index, Protected Areas Initiative and Eco-system Restoration Fund, he said these measures are geared towards bringing about improvement in the overall environment by increasing efforts at afforestation, preventing land degradation, promoting and preserving biodiversity and nature conservation.

The 17 SDGs were launched by UN member countries in 2015, and are aimed at achieving a sustainable and better future for all. To be achieved by 2030, these SDGs are targeted to address global challenges like poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, health, education, water, sanitation, food security, peace and justice. The success of the government’s policy has to be judged in the context of the whole country. It is necessary to see whether afforestation has taken place in the entire country. If regional imbalance exists, it should be removed. The success on climate change should not be on paper only. It should be seen in increased rainfall, drop in the rising sea level, reduction in heat and floods.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2020.

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