The “World Wide Views on Climate and Energy” debate in Pakistan was inaugurated by Federal Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) founder Tariq Banuri.
The debate was hosted by COMSATS University.
SDPI Executive Director Dr Abid Suleri welcomed guests and described the debate as an exercise to “learn from stakeholders and people”.
Banuri gave a brief history of destruction of ecosystems by human beings and gave the reference that more than 50 percent of world’s forests are gone.
The federal minister took credit on behalf of the PML-N government
for launching the Islamabad-Rawalpindi Metro Bus
Service on World Environment Day.
He pointed out that the buses have energy efficient (Euro II) engines, thus saving on fossil fuels.
After the inaugural session, debates began with citizens being divided into small groups.
The event turned out to be the largest global citizen consultation on climate change.
Beginning at dawn in Fiji and ending at dusk in Arizona, at least 100 citizens at each location discussed issues of climate change and voted on an identical set of questions.
The event was organised jointly by SDPI and Centre for Climate Research and Development, with support from the Embassy of France.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2015.
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