For the planet

I had the chance recently to participate in a workshop lead by the organisations, Shehri – Citizens for a Better Environment and Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF). The capacity-building workshop, ‘Energy and Climate Change – Roadmap for an Energy Turnaround Program’, focused on achieving efficiency within the system and subsequently on renewable energy interventions.
While describing the need to minimise the use of fossil fuels and curb deforestation, Muhammad Anwar, head of administration at FNF underlined the role of recycled products in reducing carbon footprints.
Anwar aired his disappointment over superpowers’ claims to act on climate change when in fact they are the ones contributing to the problem. For example, the US and China still retain a large share of coal-fired plants in the overall power supply portfolio that generates electricity for their national grids.
Today, Pakistan’s leadership is faced with the choice of either investing in renewable sources of energy or in coal power plants which some believe are the solution to an impending electricity crisis. However the decision to invest in coal-fired power plants has faced setbacks, as the Word Bank recently withdrew a proposed investment of $30 million in a coal power project in Thar due to environmental concerns. The government somehow approves projects such as these which require several million dollars, fully knowing that in the absence of investment or loans by international monetary organisations the projects do not have a chance of being initiated.
Science has proved that clean sources of energy such as solar and wind are viable in many cases. Coal-fired power plants and rental power plants are meanwhile continuing to serve as burdens on the national exchequer as well as intensifying climate change. The recently inaugurated Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park in Bahawalpur is a good decision by the PML-N government. However, more needs to be done as the power crisis is only worsening in Pakistan.
In the aftermath of extreme weather events, we need to reflect on pre-emptive actions for which plans should be made and investments prioritised. The 2014 floods were devastating, claiming 360 lives according to the National Disaster Management Authority, displacing over two million people, and responsible for the destruction of crops and livestock.
To deal with such events, the Ministry of Climate Change was formed in 2012 but faced serious setbacks as it was downgraded to a division and had to accept a huge reduction in its budget. Only Rs25 million had been allocated in the 2014-15 budget compared to Rs58 million in the previous budget. This cannot but raise the following question: when governments worldwide have allocated budgets to curb emissions and promote the concept of a green economy through the promotion of renewable energy, why are we so far behind – and that too when we are by far more vulnerable to the effects of climate change?
Today, climate change is a reality and a significant threat to national security – jeopardising livelihoods, households, and infrastructure and spreading misery. The impacts of climate change in Pakistan are highly palpable. Temperatures are recording average annual increases of 0.12 degrees Celsius and there is an annual rise in sea levels of 1.1 mm, which is responsible for the salinisation or disuse of thousands of hectares of coastal land with the passage of time.
Experts are of the view that climate change impacts can be reduced by adopting indigenous techniques. Mangroves, for example, provide a natural barrier to sea intrusion and shield coastal communities against storms and tsunamis. They also provide livelihoods to fishermen by providing a nursery for shrimps and crabs. However deforestation, pollution, camel grazing and scarcity of freshwater to the Indus delta have significantly reduced their cover and in the process rendered the coastal belt quite vulnerable to natural calamities.
WWF-Pakistan has reforested some mangrove tracts in the coastal areas of Sindh, so that fisher communities are able to depend upon climate resilient ecosystems. Through the Indus for All Programme (IFAP) 7,500 ha of mangroves were planted; the Building Capacity on Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal Areas of Pakistan (CCAP) project another 550 ha.
The significance of 2014 lies in the fact that top emitters pledged to curtail their carbon emissions. China, the world’s largest carbon emitter, declared its intention to place an absolute cap on its carbon emissions by 2016. The US, the world’s second largest carbon emitter, also decided to reduce its coal-fired plant emissions by 30 percent by 2030. While these announcements seem great, more needs to be done. If emissions aren’t curtailed global warming will further continue, which means a series of record-breaking hot years is about to be unleashed.
Even the much anticipated Lima talks failed as countries could not reach a consensus. Superpowers, however, pledged for a Green Climate Fund to help vulnerable states fight climate change. People are still hoping to reach a decisive climate agreement this year in Paris, which will help to curb greater emissions and increase global renewable energy investments.
Since Pakistan is mostly affected from floods, the management of rivers can be an effective solution. After the 2010 floods, a Ramsar Advisory Mission (RAM) team visited the wetlands along the Indus River floodplains and shared its recommendations to avoid possible flood impacts. The team presented practical and cost-effective solutions to flood management problems and outlined the role wetlands play in floodwater storage.
We should take note that the wetlands not only serve as biodiversity hotspots but also help with floodplain management. China provides a leading example. WWF-China made a landmark achievement by reconnecting 40 wetlands to the Yangtze River. The Yangtze has a storage capacity of 13 billion cubic metres and a wetland restoration of up to 2,900 square km. Such floodplains can greatly reduce the water pressure of floods. Similar work can be done to save Pakistan annual losses resulting from unplanned water release.
Furthermore, Pakistan should play a more active role by curbing emissions in various sectors of its economy and promote renewable energy (especially solar and wind energy). The future does not lie in flying like the Jetsons but in walking on the ground.
For the planet, becoming eco-efficient is the need of the hour. This can be done by walking short distances, using bicycles, car-pooling or taking public transit whenever possible. Planting trees is a healthy initiative to reduce carbon levels in the atmosphere. A mix of indigenous and new techniques can help avert climate change fallouts.
The writer is a freelance contributor.
Email: smabubakar@wwf.org.pk
Twitter: @SyedMAbubakar