Amir Khan

The government has been asked to implement more comprehensive and actionable measures with a stronger emphasis on local-level adaptation and increased involvement of non-governmental stakeholders in addressing the urgent challenges posed by the climate change phenomenon. Talking about the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) approved by the federal cabinet in July 2023, Saadullah Ayaz, an environmental specialist at the Asian Development Bank, told WealthPK that though the plan acknowledges the significance of establishing early warning systems and rehabilitation policies, it falls short in providing tangible demonstrations of how to accomplish these objectives. “The plan relies on outdated climatic data, limited to 2010, and lacks attention to detail, which are exemplified by an unattributed diagram copied from an Australian policy document,” he pointed out.

The long-awaited NAP aims at safeguarding vulnerable populations from the devastating impacts of climate change. Saadullah Ayaz, however, mentioned that the “Pakistan National Climate Resilience and Adaptation Plan 2023-2030” prepared by the Ministry of Climate Change was a comprehensive report that encompassed climate-resilient concepts. “It identifies current deficiencies and puts forth preparatory components, implementation strategies and evaluation mechanisms.” He explained that the plan delineated precise strategies aimed at enhancing the resilience and adaptive capabilities of eight susceptible sectors, encompassing water resources, agriculture and livestock, forestry, human health, biodiversity, disaster preparedness, urban resilience and gender.

He said the Ministry of Climate Change was to establish the Pakistan National Adaptation Fund (NAF) under the plan. He highlighted that the first chapter of the policy, titled “National Circumstances,” functioned as an introduction, encompassing various aspects such as physiography, demography, climatic conditions, impacts of climate change, challenges, loss and damage, along with Pakistan’s international environmental commitments and responsibilities. Saadullah Ayaz mentioned that the NAP draws attention to a substantial increase in climate-induced migration, affecting approximately 20 million individuals. “The policy document cites instances of forced evacuations, like the katchi abadis of Islamabad and housing settlements surrounding Gujjar Nala and Orangi Nala in Karachi.”

He said while authorities attribute the displacements in Karachi to urban flooding, the policy views it as a human-made reaction to climate change, leading to concerns about its efficacy. It is to mention that under the Green Climate Fund Readiness Programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Pakistan and its neighbouring countries received support to bolster their national adaptation plans processes. With funding of up to $3 million, this programme aims to enhance institutional capacities, governance mechanisms, and planning frameworks, fostering a transformative and sustainable long-term climate action agenda. Saadullah Ayaz pointed out recent floods submerged numerous houses and caused landslides in the Ayun Valley of Chitral.

“To bolster climate resilience and sustainability efforts in Chitral, Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the European Union provided a significant grant of Rs7.86 billion in January. However, concerns arose when these funds were redirected toward energy projects instead of being utilised for more enduring and environmentally sustainable climate initiatives,” he said. According to Saadullah Ayaz, Pakistan’s NAP represents a crucial advancement in protecting vulnerable populations from the impacts of climate change. During a video press conference to launch the Synthesis Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2023, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasised the urgency to address the imminent climate crisis, underscoring the critical situation faced by Pakistan.

Credit: INP-WealthPk