'Its time to act against the adverse impacts of climate change '

ISLAMABAD: Minister of Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan on Saturday said that it is high time to act against the adverse impacts of climate change and promote alternative energy options in the country.

Speaking during an event to observe earth hour by Ministry of Climate Change with the collaboration of WWF at Parliament house, the minister said that although Earth is facing serious climate change threats including sea level rise, increase in temperature, melting of glaciers, heavy floods and widespread rainfalls these can be addressed if industrialized countries take practical measures to reduce greenhouse gases and adapt environmental sustainable practices.

Mushahidullah Khan urged that there is also a need to take efforts for conservation of water and energy resources at the local level.

Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change MNA Romina Khursheed Alam also said at the occasion that we need to work together to safe energy and move towards renewable energy resources to make our country environment friendly.

Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General WWF-Pakistan, in his message for Earth Hour 2018 optimistically mentioned that the country has embraced the true essence of the movement.

The year 2018 marks the eleventh anniversary of Earth Hour, which started as a symbolic event in Sydney in 2007.

Today, it is the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment, ensuring that people, who are on the front lines of climate change, are also empowered to be the planet’s first line of defence.

The one-hour event continues to remain the key driver of the movement encouraging individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off non-essential lights as a symbol for their commitment to the planet.

Earth Hour events were also celebrated at WWF-Pakistan’s Bahawalpur and Khanewal office as well as Faisalabad in Punjab where students, families and corporate members participated. In other parts of the country, events were organized in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, Nathiagali, Gilgit, and Sukkur.