Minister stresses need for harnessing renewable energy

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan on Saturday emphasised the need to explore and develop renewable energy sources in Pakistan to stave off the negative fallouts of rising temperatures and heavy floods.

“It is high time to act against the adverse impacts of climate change and promote alternative energy options in the country,” Khan said in a ministry’s statement. He was addressing a ceremony to observe the earth hour. Ministry for climate change, in collaboration with World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan), joined 184 nations around the world in celebrations marking the ninth annual edition of earth hour.

Climate change minister said industrialised countries should also take measures to reduce greenhouse gases and adapt environmental sustainable practices to avert “serious climate change threats including sea level rise, increase in temperature, melting of glaciers, heavy floods and widespread rainfalls”. “There is also a need to take efforts for conservation of water and energy resources at the local level,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Romina Khursheed Alam, parliamentary secretary for climate change emphasised need for joint efforts to save energy and move towards renewable energy sources to make the country environment-friendly.

Hammad Naqi Khan, director general WWF-Pakistan said the country celebrated earth hour first time in 2010. “The seed we sowed has taken root and the masses today are comparatively well-aware of the climatic changes around us,” Khan added. “If we take a look into our past we would understand that movements have shaped our lives—movements matter— and the Earth Hour movement will shape our future. It is a constant reminder that we should lead towards the transformation of a more prosperous and renewable future.”

Rab Nawaz, a senior official of WWF-Pakistan said the momentum for action against climate change should be maintained. “With the historic Paris agreement on climate change now in full force, there’s never been a more crucial time to hold leaders accountable and show strong public support for efforts to stem climate change.”

As part of earth hour, people, cities and businesses around the world switched off their lights for one hour to draw attention to the urgent need to step up the fight against climate change and protection of biodiversity.