Towards green growth
Even the smallest steps, when taken by an estimated 180 million Pakistanis, would leave a large and lasting footprint.
I often hear people casually refer to how the weather in Pakistan used to be 15 years ago. Comments like, ‘it rained a lot more in Islamabad’, ‘we needed heaters in October’ and ‘it is May, but it feels like March’. To me, these are among the more subtle signs of Pakistan’s climatic changes, which have also been pointed out in a host of scholarly studies by academics and research institutions. The devastating floods of 2010 and 2011 are a sad glimpse of the disaster that weather can inflict. In the long-run, changing weather patterns affect Pakistan’s water and food security. If global temperatures continue to rise, the rising oceans would threaten Karachi, Pakistan’s economic hub.
Pakistan is not alone in facing the dangers from global warming. Being a peninsula, Korea is especially susceptible to any climatic changes that may raise sea levels. Taking stock of the danger, the government of Korea has taken the nation onboard in its quest for ‘green growth’. Korea’s policy shows that ‘green’ and ‘growth’ are not mutually exclusive. Under the umbrella of a National Strategy for Green Growth, the 2009 Green New Deal, launched at the depth of the world financial crisis, is a stimulus package with an investment of $38.5 billion for the next four years that will create 956,000 new ‘green jobs’. Businesses, too, have boldly invested in technologies such as renewable energy, hybrid cars and LEDs among others. This promotes growth, creates jobs, helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigates climate change. A presidential committee on green growth oversees the implementation a wide range of Korea’s environmentally-friendly strategies, policies and laws.
Tangible outcomes of this environment focused strategy have begun to show fruit. An energy efficiency certification is required for all buildings. Waste regeneration has improved from one per cent to 31 per cent and the share of energy efficient LED light usage is increasing from one per cent to 30 per cent. Since 2007, more than 300,000 jobs have been in the green car industry, the number of hybrid vehicles has increased from 1,386 to 30,000 and fuel economy of vehicles, under 1600cc, has improved by 16.5 per cent. All provincial governments have their own climate change plans and the government has a set a goal of a 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases.
Korea isn’t just protecting its own environment; it is also helping others combat climate change. The East Asia Climate Partnership is a multi-million dollar development assistance initiative for developing countries and the Global Green Growth Institute aims to share Korea’s green growth experience with developing countries. Internationally, Korea led the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development launch of the Green Growth Strategy as well as the Global Green Growth Summit in 2011. In March this year, Korea inaugurated a Green Technology Centre for increasing cooperation with emerging and developing countries.
But government policies only go so far. Ultimately, it’s the public which holds the keys for the success of any policy. Many are unaware that Pakistan’s policies and initiatives regarding alternate energy are admirable. What’s needed to make Pakistan more effective in countering climate change is heightened public awareness and public ownership of Pakistan’s environment and Pakistan’s environmental issues. Even the smallest steps, when taken by an estimated 180 million Pakistanis, would leave a large and lasting footprint.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2012.
Pakistan is not alone in facing the dangers from global warming. Being a peninsula, Korea is especially susceptible to any climatic changes that may raise sea levels. Taking stock of the danger, the government of Korea has taken the nation onboard in its quest for ‘green growth’. Korea’s policy shows that ‘green’ and ‘growth’ are not mutually exclusive. Under the umbrella of a National Strategy for Green Growth, the 2009 Green New Deal, launched at the depth of the world financial crisis, is a stimulus package with an investment of $38.5 billion for the next four years that will create 956,000 new ‘green jobs’. Businesses, too, have boldly invested in technologies such as renewable energy, hybrid cars and LEDs among others. This promotes growth, creates jobs, helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigates climate change. A presidential committee on green growth oversees the implementation a wide range of Korea’s environmentally-friendly strategies, policies and laws.
Tangible outcomes of this environment focused strategy have begun to show fruit. An energy efficiency certification is required for all buildings. Waste regeneration has improved from one per cent to 31 per cent and the share of energy efficient LED light usage is increasing from one per cent to 30 per cent. Since 2007, more than 300,000 jobs have been in the green car industry, the number of hybrid vehicles has increased from 1,386 to 30,000 and fuel economy of vehicles, under 1600cc, has improved by 16.5 per cent. All provincial governments have their own climate change plans and the government has a set a goal of a 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases.
Korea isn’t just protecting its own environment; it is also helping others combat climate change. The East Asia Climate Partnership is a multi-million dollar development assistance initiative for developing countries and the Global Green Growth Institute aims to share Korea’s green growth experience with developing countries. Internationally, Korea led the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development launch of the Green Growth Strategy as well as the Global Green Growth Summit in 2011. In March this year, Korea inaugurated a Green Technology Centre for increasing cooperation with emerging and developing countries.
But government policies only go so far. Ultimately, it’s the public which holds the keys for the success of any policy. Many are unaware that Pakistan’s policies and initiatives regarding alternate energy are admirable. What’s needed to make Pakistan more effective in countering climate change is heightened public awareness and public ownership of Pakistan’s environment and Pakistan’s environmental issues. Even the smallest steps, when taken by an estimated 180 million Pakistanis, would leave a large and lasting footprint.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2012.