Country urged to adopt renewable energy to fight climate change impacts

Pakistan need to shift towards renewable energy sources urgently to cope with environmental challenges occurring due to climate change.

This was urged by experts during a webinar titled “Renewable Energy: Pursuing Clean Energy Solutions for Pakistan”, organised by Global Neighbourhood for Media Innovation in collaboration with the United States Department of State.

The online moot discussed the role of renewable energy in combating climate change as Pakistan is still majorly dependent on fossil fuels for the daily operation.

The speakers highlighted the use of renewable energy in mitigating climate change, reducing carbon footprints, and charting a course toward energy autonomy.

The event was moderated by environmental journalist Afia Salam. She emphasized the media’s role in disseminating climate change awareness.

Salam presented a view of the environmental issues, stressing that policymakers must adopt cohesive strategies within the Pakistani context.

Providing insights into Pakistan’s energy generation portfolio, Zehra Aneek, an expert on energy sustainability and corporate governance, said that the country heavily relied on fossil fuels, which account for 60 percent of total energy consumption.

She elucidated the challenges in infrastructure development for renewable energy transmission and installation by citing policy barriers such as the “solar tax”, which disincentivizes the adoption of renewable energy sources to the public.

Echoing these sentiments, Mohsin Babbar, a media person, shed light on the economic repercussions of Pakistan’s energy import bills and circular debt. He emphasized the need for broadening the climate change discourse beyond urban elites to engage local communities actively.

Babbar highlighted the role of political parties, media, and digital influencers in promoting awareness and advocacy for renewable energy solutions.

Nida Farid, an aerospace engineer, said that it was important to educate the public about energy conservation in reducing utility bills and promoting energy-efficient appliances.

She underlined the necessity of dispelling misconceptions surrounding energy among policymakers to facilitate effective decision-making.

The webinar emphasized the necessity of policy frameworks that support renewable energy adoption without acting as barriers.

The discussion highlighted solar energy as a viable solution for mitigating climate change consequences and called for collective action towards a cleaner, safer environment for future generations.