Pakistan calls for concerted global efforts to counter climate change ... - Xinhua
Pakistan calls for concerted global efforts to counter climate change crisis-Xinhua
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Considering the devastating impacts of climate change, Pakistan's interim minister for planning, development and special initiatives Muhammad Sami Saeed urged the international community to make concerted efforts to counter the climate change crisis.
"The governments, civil society and international partners must join hands to tackle climate crisis through collective and coordinated efforts to combat the crisis," the minister said on Monday while addressing a seminar on climate change.
Saeed said Pakistan has been witnessing challenging impacts of climate change ranging from devastating floods to prolonged droughts, from heat waves to melting glaciers.
"These changes pose immense threats to our environment, economy, and the well-being of our people," he said while urging the stakeholders to play their constructive role in combatting the crisis.
Talking about the recent floods in Pakistan, the minister said that the country faced unprecedented devastation due to torrential rains and flooding last year, which affected 33 million people and resulted in economic losses worth 30 billion U.S. dollars.
Pakistan's carbon emission is less than 1 percent, but it is among the countries that are most vulnerable to climatic disasters, Saeed said, adding that by fostering partnerships and sharing knowledge, progress towards climate resilience and sustainable development can be expedited.
Recognizing the role of nature in climate adaptation and mitigation, the minister said that Pakistan launched robust natural capital restoration efforts, including tree plantation programs to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, restore ecosystems, and enhance livelihood opportunities for vulnerable communities. ■
Related Knowledge Center: Climate economics
Climate change is now a driver of the world’s economy. The impact is profound:
- Catastrophic weather events — hurricanes, floods, droughts, high temperatures — are more frequent and more extreme. The cost can be measured in both the initial damage caused and the longer-term impact on the economy.
- Vulnerable communities are increasing climate-related investments, hardening infrastructure and taking other protective measures.
- Investment in carbon capture and storage technologies is increasingly rapidly.
- Governments are making investments and crafting regulations to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
On top of all of this is the cost of uncertainty. As the Fourth National Climate Assessment, released in 2018 by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, says, “The assumption that current and future climate conditions will resemble the recent past is no longer valid.”