[ad_1]
ISLAMABAD: Climate change minister Senator Sherry Rahman revealed on Thursday that the federal cupboard has accepted the nation’s largest “Living Indus” initiative.
The minister mentioned that the mission goals to guard the cradle of civilizations which was in grave hazard attributable to environmental degradation and anthropogenic actions.
Addressing a media briefing organized by Asif Haider Shah, Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change, the Minister unveiled the salient options of the mission, which has been conceived after in-depth consultations with academicians, specialists, stakeholders and provincial governments.
Rahman mentioned that the river Indus was the mom of the nation because it nurtured the whole agriculture and humanity dwelling round it from north to south.
“We have to ensure development in sync with nature, not against nature.”
He mentioned the United Nations had assisted the Ministry of Climate Change in creating an in depth report on the Indus River so {that a} well-thought-out technique may very well be developed to start its conservation and restoration as a dwelling river.
The Minister underlined that the character, topography and biodiversity of the Indus River varies with every area by way of which it passes.
“Marine species are at risk, while humans living across the mighty river are most at risk. The Indus River had burst in 2010 due to heavy floods and the recent torrential rains. We have to find ways to revive the natural course of the Indus River.
Elaborating on the Living Indus Initiative, the Minister informed that 25 early interventions which were priority areas would be focused on. In addition, access to adaptation will be central to our defense strategy and climate change mitigation plan.
“As we have to ensure climate resilient growth and development, access to adaptation will be our main focus.”
He said the ministry would also intervene on global fora on loss and damage, and climate financing. The Minister expressed pride in launching the Living Indus Initiative.
Elaborating on the key 25 interventions, the minister said that the project would work in every nook and corner of the country, while the private sector would need to chip in in finance as there was a paucity of resources.
“All our money has been converted into a humanitarian fund for the rehabilitation of the flood victims. The Climate Adaptation and Resilience Fund has also been transferred to this effort. ,
He said the ministry would seek funding after the humanitarian phase in the country is over.
25 priority interventions, she informed:
- Nature Based Resilience Agriculture
- Salinity Control in the Lower Indus
- Indus Delta Conservation
- Indus cleaning from industrial waste
- Green infrastructure and ground recharge
- ground water governance
- one lakh community bond
- Living Indus Knowledge Platform
- Indus Trust Fund, Climate Nature Performance Bond
- Social Entrepreneurship for Harit Sindhu
- Zero plastic waste city on the banks of the Indus
- urban forest along the Indus
- Indus Protection Act
- Conservation of the Indus beds
- Biodiversity created in the Indus Basin
- Community Based Tourism in Sindhu
- Indus Heritage Site,
- Extended GLOF II
- promotion of permaculture and others
He said that this initiative is of every government including the provinces as these projects will be taken up in the provinces.
Pakistan paid a huge cost due to the heatwave in the agriculture sector, he said, adding, “It is a matter of our survival. The shrinking size of palla fish and other species is clear evidence of environmental degradation and loss of polluted habitat of the Indus River. ,
He mentioned that all provinces were dumping industrial effluents which needed to be addressed through stakeholder engagement.
He said that under the initiative the living database would provide standardized data and the ministry would take all necessary steps in this regard.
“We will encourage plastic pollution control through public and community participation, not punishment. Pakistan has been home to the hottest cities this year and the temperature has crossed 53 degree Celsius.
The Minister underlined that the Indus River is the second most polluted river in the world.
Secretary MOCC Asif Haider Shah said on the occasion that these interventions have large-scale community participation for the ownership of the local population and were a long-term intervention.
Responding to media queries, he said the consultation process involved experts, academia and provincial governments for the initiative, while the steering committee would have chief ministers of all the provinces to execute the project.
“It will have public-private partnerships, government and international funding.”
Responding to the questions, the Minister said that this is the biggest adaptation project which should be promoted for the benefit of the country.
“There has been criminal negligence of the previous government on the climate adaptation plan as many initiatives during the Imran regime ended on paper.”
By the end of this year, he said the ministry would ensure legislation that traditionally took two years.
“The Living Indus Initiative will cost $11-17 billion. We will try to manage it through the available financial facilities. We will also launch it at COP27.”
[ad_2]
Source link