Call for climate-resilient cities amid greenhouse gas emissions

Islamabad: Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam on Thursday said while the urban areas significantly contributed to greenhouse gas emissions, developing climate-resilient cities was inevitable for national, regional and global sustainability efforts and reducing overall climate impacts on the people and infrastructure.

“Climate change-induced extreme weather events, particularly heat waves and urban flooding incidents are posing grave risk to the lives and livelihoods of the people and public infrastructure. However, building climate-resilience of the cities against adverse impacts of climate change is crucial for making the urban environmentally-sustainable and resilient-livable places,” Ms Alam told a delegation led by Capital Development Authority Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa in a meeting at the ministry here.

She called for implementing policies for climate-resilient urbanisdsation to address immediate environmental challenges and promote long-term sustainability, equity, and quality of life in urban areas.

The aide to the PM said making cities climate-resilient was not possible without involving a multifaceted approach that included planning, infrastructure development, community engagement and relevant policy implementation.

He said the country’s several cities were facing significant climate risks, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar. “With increasing temperatures, erratic rainfall, and rising sea levels, the need for climate adaptation strategies has never been more urgent. We [climate change ministry] are taking all-out measures and implementing policies and frameworks to create sustainable urban environments for making cities environmentally-sustainable and climate-resilient so that they can withstand the impacts of climate change while improving the quality of life for residents,” she said.

Ms Alam said Islamabad would enhance its green cover and flowering plants, positioning itself as a benchmark for other cities to emulate in achieving sustainability goals. She also highlighted the importance of addressing climate-related health issues, advocating for the relocation of paper mulberry trees to mitigate pollen allergies affecting residents.

"Revamping parks across Islamabad to enhance the city's green spaces and improve recreational areas for residents. It should be aligned with broader environmental goals, including increased tree planting and promoting biodiversity within urban settings," she said.

The CDA chairman highlighted the ongoing projects of urban planning, renewable energy, environmental health, transport, zero waste, and water management, saying they all are meant to develop Islamabad as a smart city.

He also said the CDA was developing an extensive bicycle route network to promote sustainable commuting options throughout the capital city. Both sides agreed to collaborate for afforestation over 700 acres of land near Bhara Kahu on the outskirts of Islamabad.