Pakistan Meets the UN Climate Goals One Full Decade Before Deadline

It’ll be another decade until the many nations and firms of the world are to be evaluated for the United Nations 18 Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDG). Much to the delight of global environmentalists, Pakistan has already met the required criteria, which urges nations to take urgent action against climate change and its effects. Pakistan isn’t the richest of countries, but it does have a major incentive to tackle the climate crisis, as they are ranked among the most vulnerable nations to the direct effects of global climate change.

“With the achieving of the Climate Action SDG 13, Pakistan has proved that it is committed to global efforts against the challenge of climate change to protect life on the planet earth,” Malik Amin Islam, advisor to the Premier on climate change.

Major initiatives have contributed to the country’s fulfillment of SDG 13, including the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Project, a nationwide initiative, started in 2015, meant to reforest degraded land around the Hindu Kush Mountains in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. Since the project was relaunched in April, amidst the COVID-19 shutdowns, it has also helped the economy, putting thousands of recently-unemployed Pakistani laborers back to work.

Image source: usembassy.gov

Another trailblazing program which has contributed greatly to the nation’s eco-success has been the so-called Clean Green Pakistan Index, which ranks cities and towns based on the quality of solid and liquid waste treatment and removal, sanitation and drinking water services, as well as parks and green spaces. The communities have the highest scores, receive a reward in recognition of their work and benefits.

“These protected refuges of nature also create a payback mechanism by creating spaces for human recreation, promoting ecotourism, generating green jobs, enhancing resilience to natural disasters, contributing to food and water security through ecosystem restoration and addressing issues such as climate change by sequestering carbon.” - Malik Amin Islam, advisor to the Premier on climate change

The Protected Areas Initiative aims to secure the 15% of the country that exists as wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the finest possible ecological management plans.

By some studies and assessments, Pakistan is the fifth most-vulnerable nation in the long term to extreme weather events owing to its geographical position, and has been in the top ten for the last 30 years.

“This means that our economy is at peril from climate catastrophes and this is not alone an environmental challenge but also an issue affecting our economy, human health, agriculture and ecosystem. Turning to renewable energy and a range of other measures that will reduce emissions and increase adaptation efforts is a key way forward as a part of viable climate action” said Amin Islam.

Prime Minister Khan announced that energy companies were pulling back from plans to construct a series of 2,740-megawatt imported coal projects auctioned off by the previous government, opting instead to zero carbon and indigenous hydroelectric projects of a much higher, 3,700-megawatt capacity, partially sponsored by the state. As well as being more ecologically acceptable, this is also necessary, as Pakistan has a gross domestic product, that while on the rise, still amounts to only $316 billion U.S. a year, and needs power to sustain its growing economy.

Pakistan’s success, standing in contrast to its limited resources shows clearly that it doesn’t always have to be global “superpowers” that take the lead on the world stage, but rather countries that have the will, the talent, the initiative and fresh perspective to make positive changes.