Experts underline ways to control climate change in Pakistan

According to a press release by French Embassy,”Pakistan Sey Paris: on the road to 2015 Paris Climate Conference” was organized by the Embassy of France, federal and provincial governments, the United Nations, and a large array of civil society organizations. More than 600 people from all walks of life attended the summit.

Team in #Lahore for #Pakistan sey #Paris @COP21 #ClimateChange #conference . pic.twitter.com/RKnjHxmm0F

— Nuaman Ishfaq Mughal (@NuamanM) October 13, 2015

Experts in the field discussed low-carbon development strategies in Pakistan, adaptation and impacts of climate change on food and water security, on health and gender, disaster risk management and climate smart solutions. Author of the National Climate Change Policy Dr Qamar-uz-Zaman Chaudhry said that the climate change is the most difficult challenge humans have ever created in the 21st century.

Senator (R) Javed Jabbar extended his support to strengthening the capacity of civil society and decreasing their dependency on donor organizations, reconceptualising the development approaches and adopting a collaborative rather than confrontational approach to address the issue.

Chairman Water and Environment Forum Pakistan Senator Nisar Memon, emphasized that “small solutions had to be developed together with the private sector to face climate change challenges” while former ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel stressed on the need to strengthen institutional mechanisms in order to promote collaboration among government agencies and non-state stakeholders for formulation and implementation of a low carbon climate resilient growth paradigm.

UN official Bella Evidente urged “the cities to act and identify their risks”.

Bella Evidente CPM @UNHabitatPK at the Climate Risk Mgmt session in Pakistan sey Paris Conf Lhr @COP21 #Paris2015 pic.twitter.com/pw0yXzMp8y

— UN-Habitat Pakistan (@UNHabitatPK) October 14, 2015

Dr Dominique Reynaud, eminent French scientist, proposed establishing a scientific Regional panel on climate Change (RPCC) or a Pakistan Panel on climate change (PPCC) on the model of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Marc-André Franche from UNDP highlighted the importance of developing climate change literacy and of implementing effectively the policies, through better governance in the two day conference.