Pakistan, US agree on joint efforts to protect environmental ecosystems

Islamabad : Pakistan and the US have agreed to jointly work for enhanced global climate action to protect the world's environmental ecosystems.

The agreement came during a meeting between Special Assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam and US Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry in London on the heels of the pre-COP meeting in the run-up to the annual global climate conference set for next November in Glasgow.

Both sides discussed bilateral cooperation in the fields of post-COVID-19 green economic recovery by enhancing investment in nature-based solutions and green job creations, environmental sustainability, climate change, sustainable forest management, air pollution and water conservation and protection and disaster risk reduction.

They agreed to form a joint working group to address challenges related to Climate Change, to take these talks forwards and strengthen relationships for Climate Protection.

Kerry appreciated Pakistan's Ten Billion Tree Tsunami afforestation campaign and promised the US support against climate change including providing access to best available technologies in renewable energy transition, technical support on climate smart agriculture and availability of climate finance.

"“It will be truly great working with Pakistan to support its green initiatives launched as a part of global climate action and restoration of degraded ecosystems and attainment of overall environmental sustainability and climate resilience,” he said.

The SAPM thanked the US government for reigniting their leadership role on Climate Change, under the Biden administration, and said Pakistan believed in a low carbon development pathway and on nature-based solutions to Climate Change.

"Pakistan is finalising its enhanced NDCs to be presented at COP26 and reaffirmed that the world needs to collectively confront the largest challenge humanity has ever faced. Availability of the promised Climate finance remains the key to success at Glasgow," he said.

Malik Amin is attending the July Pre-COP 26 ministerial meeting in London along with climate and environment ministers and representatives from 50 countries.