Islamabad, 21 September 2021 (TDI): Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, virtually attended an informal meeting of thirty-five heads of states and government on climate change. The meeting was held on 20th September and was convened jointly by the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson on the sidelines of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The meeting was convened with the objective to discuss the shared vision and concerns regarding the climate change crisis which would be delivered in the upcoming Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, to be held in November this year.
Prime minter Imran khan in his address emphasized that the developed countries need to be at the forefront in the endeavors to tackle climate change by reducing carbon emissions as well as increasing financial assistance to the developing countries in this regard. He said the commitments made under Paris Agreement must be fulfilled including ensuring climate finance pledges by the developed countries.
He propped that initiatives like debt-for-nature swap would encourage developing countries to enhance their climate actions. Regarding Pakistan’s climate change efforts, Imran khan highlighted the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Project and Clean and Green Pakistan with a target to produce clean energy up to 60 percent by 2030. In this regard, hydropower projects have been installed instead of two planned 2600 megawatts coal power plants
Pakistan is among the most affected countries by climate change despite its low carbon emissions. Prime Minister Imran Khan stressed this during his address at the SCO Summit 2021 as well.
