LAHORE: According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan, Phase-I of the Green Pakistan Upscaling Program has succeeded in planting 2.12 billion more trees than it set out to, increasing the nation’s forested area.
For the next four years (2024–2028), the program will be revised to add carbon finance mechanisms, scientific resource evaluations, livelihood creation, and biodiversity conservation to its expanded scope.It further stated that in an effort to lessen and decrease the carbon footprint, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination is collaborating with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
These funds are being used for a variety of projects and programs, such as the Community Resilience Partnership Program, Solar Product Distribution, Indus Basin Transformation, Recharge Pakistan, and Expanding Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Risk Reduction in Northern Pakistan, among others.
According to German Watch’s Climate Risk Index, Pakistan is among the top 10 countries in the world that are most impacted by climate change. Unpredictable weather patterns across the nation are causing events like flash floods, severe droughts, glacial lake eruptions, extreme heat waves, and irregular rainfall. As a result, its landscapes and ecosystems are gradually declining. Due to increased human activity, there are more forest fires, migratory plant and animal species, and diminishing water sources and wells.
Furthermore, erosion and inundation along the coast, as well as the loss of vital coastal habitats like mangroves which are crucial nurseries for numerous fish species can result from rising sea levels and stronger storms.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, the frequency and intensity of certain severe events are expected to increase due to climate change. The National Clean Air Policy (NCAP), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Pakistan Policy Guideline for Trading in Carbon Markets, National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and Climate Budget Tagging Initiative are just a few of the climate-related policies and measures that the government has already put in place to address the problems brought on by climate change.
