Needing a policy to balance resources and climatic change

Pakistan is located in one of the most unpredictable climate change-affected zones in the world. According to the IPCC, it is the eighth most susceptible nation to climate change. Despite producing less than 1% of the world’s GHG emissions, the country has been hit hard by climatic catastrophes over the last two decades.

The recent heatwaves in the country have heightened public awareness of the growing threat posed by climate change. International recognition of Pakistan’s efforts to become a low-carbon society is a good sign, but there are still gaps in Pakistan’s National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) and National Forest Policy (NFP). Understanding national constraints and priorities is essential before deciding on climate change policy. Additionally international commitments must also be given sufficient priority. Since the emphasis is entirely on mitigating and adapting to climate change, it is critical that the economy be linked to resource management as a policy format.

It was in 2012 that Pakistan drafted NCPP. This multi-sector strategy provides both adaptation and mitigation measures. NFP 2015 intends to increase and safeguard the country’s national forests while also maximising their long-term usefulness.

Pakistan’s efforts to combat climate change have been acknowledged across the world. The Billion Tree Tsunami project is widely regarded as a major triumph for Pakistan. Thanks to its rapid reforestation efforts, Pakistan is now the CoP21’s sixth forest tiger. However, the million-dollar question is: is Pakistan’s national context taken into account while formulating such policies? The response is quite ambiguous.

Moreover, there is not a single effective mechanism in place to ensure that all stakeholders are on board. There is a conflict of interest between mining, wildlife and tourism departments, all of whom want to use forest land for their own petty purposes. Because of this fragmentation in approach, it is still difficult to connect natural forests, wetlands and animal habitats.

Mass afforestation operations, aimed at increasing forest cover, meet several difficulties since the accessible area that falls within the designated/legal category of forest is not completely delineated. Land use change, communal land, deforestation in protected areas and land grabs from protected forests are some of the key concerns for maintaining forest cover in the Guzara Forest Reserve in Pakistan. No central system enables the coordinated flow of business and trade between provinces or departments of provincial governments as well as between provinces and departments.

Pakistan’s efforts in the battle against climate change have been appreciated the world over. This has helped us project a more pleasing equation of ourselves. However, are we aware of the homegrown constraints when it comes to climate change?

We do have policies aimed at helping the poor. But the reality is that these policies do not reach the lower strata of society. Instead, the poor are solely employed as cheap labour, and no measures are adopted to help them better their lot. Pakistan is a developing country, and hunger and poverty are major issues for our people. Our efforts to combat climate change have improved, but policies that protect natural resources at the expense of human well-being are not in an adaptable mode.

Pakistan’s economic and resource management agencies are not integrated, which is a simmering problem. The economy cannot thrive if resources are not being managed sustainably. Pakistan has a wealth of untapped resources and potential that may be used for economic buoyancy. If ecotourism is encouraged, the country can scale new heights of success. Proper mechanisms must be put in place to ensure that northern forests are harvested in a timely manner in order to meet the country’s need for food supplies. Prompt incentives are needed to educate the people to prevent changes in land use and the sale of privately held forest areas. Pakistan needs to strike a strategic balance between its immense natural resources keeping in view climate change considerations.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2022.

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