Govt to increase climate change ministry budget

In a bid to tackle the escalating climate crisis, the government has decided to pump up the budget for the Ministry of Climate Change by Rs11.82 billion for the fiscal year 2024-25.

The increase will elevate the ministry's development budget from Rs4 billion to Rs15.87 billion, sources revealed on Friday. The augmented budget includes a significant allocation of Rs15.62 billion for the Green Pakistan initiative, a project initially launched in 2018.

The initiative, previously known as the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami, aims to plant trees across the nation and combat the adverse effects of climate change.

The total cost of the ambitious project is projected to exceed Rs125 billion. By June 30, 2024, the project is expected to have incurred costs amounting to Rs29.56 billion, with expenditures rising to over Rs45 billion in the next financial year.

The increased funding underscores the government's commitment to enhancing its climate change mitigation efforts. Alongside the Green Pakistan initiative, the new budget will support four additional projects under the Ministry of Climate Change.

Notably, Rs100 million has been earmarked for a capacity-building project within the ministry.

The Green Pakistan program, along with its precursor, the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami, remains central to the nation's environmental strategy.

The initiatives are designed to curb deforestation, promote biodiversity, and mitigate climate change impacts by increasing the country's green cover. The bolstered budget aims to ensure the sustainability and expansion of these vital environmental projects.