PAKISTAN’S STATUS ON CLIMATE CHANGE INITIATIVES (2009)

Saadullah Ayaz
saadayaz@gmail.com

Following activities have been undertaken by Pakistan under the climate change
initiatives:

Pakistan signed the UNFCCC as Non Annex- I Party in June 1994 and it became
effective for Pakistan, as Party, with effect from 30th August 1994.

The country adopted Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and acceded to the Kyoto Protocol on
11th January 2005.

Pakistan has undertaken a comprehensive inventory of GHG emission sources

and sinks, as well as prioritized feasible mitigating options and formulated a GHG
abatement strategy under the GEF/UNDP Asia Least Cost Greenhouse Gas
Abatement Strategy (ALGAS) completed in 1997.

Pakistan has submitted the Initial National Communication to UNFCCC in which

national GHG inventory was updated and strategy for addressing climate change
concerns developed.

The Country re-affirmed its commitment to meeting the objectives of the Rio
Convention at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in
Johannesburg in 2002.

Pakistan also carried out a comprehensive study for assessing the impact of
climate change in Pakistan through UNEP/Ministry of Environment.

A high level National Committee on Climate Change, chaired by the Prime Minister
of Pakistan has been formed to review policies and monitor progress on climate
change initiatives in the country.

An autonomous Global Change Impact Studies Centre has been established that
is engaged in research on impacts and adaptation to climate change in the
country. The Centre is now well equipped with staff and resources and is engaged
in modeling based research on climate change not only in Pakistan but also at the
regional level.

Pakistan has already approved other related policies including; National

Environmental Policy (2005), National Forest Policy (Draft), National Energy
Conservation Policy (2006), National Renewable Energy Policy (2006), Policy for
Development of Renewable Energy for Power Generation (2006).

Saadullah Ayaz. Climate Change Coordinator, IUCN


Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) has been promulgated in 1997, that
lays significant emphasis to restrict the air emissions and effluents to the limits
specified in the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQs).

Following the accession of the Kyoto Protocol, the Ministry of Environment,

Government of Pakistan has been declared as a focal institution to deal with
climate change in Pakistan.

Pakistan established a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Secretariat as part

of the Designated National Authority for approving and facilitating CDM projects in
line with national sustainable development goals. Pakistan National Operational
Strategy on CDM strategy has been approved in February 2006, that offers all
outstanding support for attracting investments and capitalizing the carbon business
under the CDM initiative. A Clean Development Mechanism Cell works with public
and private sector partners in the CDM process for attracting investments in
energy efficiency, renewable and alternate energy together with technology
transfer and capacity building.

Pakistan initiated the process of formulation of the Second National

Communication on climate change and has requested Global Environment Facility
(GEF) for the provision of necessary resources.

Pakistan granted Host Country Approval to the following fourteen (14) CDM
projects estimating an annual reduction of 3.5 million tones of greenhouse gas
(equivalent) emission per year during their operation. One of these projects already
got registered with CDM Executive Board.

Many other are in pipeline at various stages of development in sectors like

industrial processes, energy efficiency, alternate energy, waste management, etc.

A separate Climate Change Unit, headed by a Deputy Secretary has been

established in the Ministry of Environment.

A PSDP Project worth Rs. 38.93 million has been approved for a period of 3 years
(July 2006- June 2009) for further strengthening of CDM Cell.

A Japanese Policy and Human Resource Development (PHRD) Grant of US $

0.57 million has been obtained through the World Bank for the capacity building of
CDM in Pakistan. The project will become operational in March 2008.

A Norwegian grant of US$ 0.67 million has been obtained through United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for promoting CDM business in
Pakistan. The project is awaiting release of funds and will become operation in
March 2008.

The Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) on Climate Change was constituted in 2007.
The major objective of TAP is to provide technical advice to the GoP in general,

Saadullah Ayaz. Climate Change Coordinator, IUCN

 and the Ministry of Environment (MoE) in particular to facilitate the integration of
climate change aspects in relevant national policies, plans and for the preparation
of country briefs for international events.

A number of donor assisted projects in areas of dry- land management, mountain

areas conservation and development, biodiversity conservation/ protected areas
management, and management of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFS) are
being implemented. A number of initiatives on community based adaptation and
awareness raising are already underway.

Ministry of Environment has launched capacity building initiative for preparation of

CDM projects s in forestry sector of Pakistan. The activity is being undertaken with
financial assistance of Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC) and
technical assistance on Inter- cooperation.

Government of Pakistan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with

Japan Carbon Fund through Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for
mutual cooperation on CDM. Similar other initiatives are also being planned to
promote international participation in Pakistani carbon market.

Various capacity building workshops and seminars have been conducted by the
Ministry of Environment and other national organizations including NGOs to
increase awareness and increasing capacity in climate change research and
adaptation measures in the country. Sector specific and targeted workshops have
been conducted to promote development of CDM projects in wind energy, forestry
and oil and gas sector, while many such initiatives are also being planned for near
future.

Saadullah Ayaz. Climate Change Coordinator, IUCN