ISLAMABAD : – This week the United Nations, the Aga Khan Foundation and the Ministry of Climate Change convened two wide gatherings on June 5th and 7th in a dual effort to spotlight the pressing need for climate action and environmental protection.
The first of the two events welcomed a spectrum of dignitaries, diplomats, and grassroots champions all converging to amplify the urgent message: the time for decisive action is now.
During the ceremony, Pakistan’s ‘Living Indus’ initiative officially received the World Restoration Flagship award which the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced in February.
Ms. Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, who was handed over the award, said: “Pakistan is among the countries most adversely impacted by climate change, but it is now leading the way with its climate diplomacy.”
In Pakistan and all over the world, ecosystems are threatened. This year, World Environment
Day focused on land restoration, halting desertification and building drought resilience under the slogan “Our land. Our future. We are Generation Restoration.”
“Just last week, temperatures in Pakistan crossed 52 degrees Celsius. We cannot turn back time, but we can take collective action to adapt to this new age of global warming,” said Mr. Mohamed Yahya, the UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan. “Across the country, communities are already trying to cope with the impact of climate change. By supporting the Government’s ‘Living Indus’ initiative and a range of innovative programmes, United Nations agencies support Pakistan’s efforts to protect and restore nature, biodiversity, water sources, as well as their lives and livelihoods.”
During the ceremony, 30 ‘Climate Heroes’ of Pakistan received medals.
Mr. Akhtar Iqbal, CEO, Aga Khan Foundation noted: “Communities have been experiencing firsthand the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation. It is already transforming landscapes, habitats, livelihoods, and local aspirations. That said, our collective actions can make a difference. We have been fully committed to doing our part for over 55 years and we will continue to support Pakistan to cope with the challenges ahead. We want to ensure that communities are empowered to be more resilient, have access to clean energy, adopt more sustainable natural resources management practices and contribute to large reforestation efforts. We also want to place women and young people at the centre of climate leadership and invest in their future through boosting green businesses and jobs.”
On Friday at PNCA, the second event was public and welcomed everyone, especially young people, to get inspired into taking the lead in environmental protection. It included a second screening of ‘When the floods come’, a new documentary by Nyal Mueenuddin, a young Pakistani filmmaker who went with friends on a 3000km odyssey down Pakistan’s Indus River. The popular band from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Khumariyaan, enchanted the crowd with mesmerizing tunes in honour of the Indus River Basin and Pakistan’s rich and diverse culture, while several climate activists shared their passion and hope with the audience.
