Fwd: [Press Release] The Power of Social Media established PPCC - Pakistan Panel on Climate Change

[Kanwar M. Javed IQBAL]

PRESS RELEASE – SDC - SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CENTRE The Power of Social Media established PPCC - Pakistan Panel on Climate Change .   SDC Islamabad (January 14, 2016). The power of social media has been utilized for the first time in Pakistan to create a national level Panel on Climate Change - said by Malik Amin Aslam, Former Minister of State for Environment and Vice President of IUCN Global while addressing the inaugural session of the workshop arranged by Sustainable Development Centre in collaboration with Institute of Policy Studies, held on 13th January 2016 at IPS Office Islamabad, to establish Pakistan Panel on Climate Change, as an alliance and think tank, to fill in the gap of a forum. The National Democratic Foundation (NDF) was observer in process.   It is pertinent to mention that the 1st Stakeholders’ Consultative Workshop was held based on SDC’s Virtual Forum SD Practitioners resolved to establish a platform to address the climate change concerns in scientific, ethical, professional and systematic way, recognizing the importance of Paris Agreement 2015 on climate change and realizing the need and commitment of Pakistan for its implementation.   Malik Amin Aslam maintained in his key note address that the need for such a forum and importance of holistic and collective approach to deal with the impacts of climate change in Pakistan and South Region. He appreciated the active engagement of youth, students, civil society organisations, business community and academics through social media group that led to establish Pakistan Panel on Climate Change today. Referring to Paris Agreement which he attended recently stated that Pakistan is highly vulnerable to the climate change impacts, as 90% disasters in Pakistan are triggered due to climatic variants. He stressed upon the need that the federal and provincial Governments should proactively devise strategies by incorporating climate resilient design in the development process. He also stressed the need for full participation of civil society like PPCC to influence and assist government for effective disaster risk reduction and risk management to minimize the social and economic losses. Referring to the Report on Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) of Pakistan, he emphasized to revisit this important document through rigorous consultative process and come up with a target oriented and need based document that could attract available international funding so complement national climate change programme.   The Chairman of the process Observer organization NDF Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad presided the concluding session of the workshop, appreciated the SDC led initiative of establishing the forum; and marked Climate Change a bigger threat than Atomic War; and established demand for and acceptance of this novel initiative. He further maintained and authenticated the visionary leadership of the forum. He maintained that the legislators would take benefit from the science based knowledge to be generated and provided by this think tank, and hoped that its input to the climate policy and strategic work of the Government in climate change will be beneficial to the country.   Earlier, Vice President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Mr. Zafar Bakhtawari and Chairman Environment Committee of FPCCI, Gulzar Firoz maintained that the trade and industry should be fully engaged in climate response strategies for which they extended their all possible support. Gulzar Firoz stated that climate adaptation is imperative and water recycling should be promoted in a country like Pakistan where water scarcity is getting more importance. The culture of conservation and waste treatment should be promoted and maintained that these are the rationales to establish PPCC. Iqbal Tabish, Secretary General SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SAARC CCI) appreciated the constitution of PPCC and extended all possible support for its agenda at South Asia regional level. The Member Planning Commission of Pakistan, Dr. Tahir Hijazi emphasized on promotion of renewable technologies in the country and enhancing forest cover in Pakistan would bring significant contribution to attain goals under Paris Agreement.   Abdul Latif Rao, former Country Representative of IUCN and Executive Director of SDC said that establishing such think tanks at national and regional levels is the need of the hour. Mirza Hamid Hassan, former Secretary, Ministry of Water and Power and Senior Advisor IPS observed that the climate change impacts are enormous while the response of government and civil society seems slow. He stressed upon the need to review Agriculture Policy and introduce temperature and drought resistant crops to cater for changing climate pattern. Professor Irfan Khan of IIU deliberated on the importance of climate governance and the gaps existing at local, provincial and national levels in Pakistan in the context of responding to the country specific needs and to contribute to the regional and global climate change related challenges, as a responsible nation. Kanwar M. Javed Iqbal, Senior Research Fellow, SDC presented the name, vision, mission and mandate of the panel which was approved in the form of resolution by the participants of the workshop. Discussant Professor Dr. Farhat Abbas, Dean Faculty of Engineering at Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF) provided valuable thoughts in materializing resolution from the house. Asif Shuja Khan, former Director General, Pak-EPA and Vice Chairman, Sustainable Development Services Partnership (SDSP), a network of SDC, and Chairman, Institute of Water, Air and Toxicity Control for Humanity (IWATCH) appreciated the efforts of SDC for taking this initiative forward. He stated that PPCC should synthesize the politicians and policy makers to the serious consequences of climate change. He further emphasized on active involvement of provincial governments and local governments by analyzing the scenario after 18th amendment in the constitution of Pakistan. The workshop was attended by a group of 62 persons comprised of senior officers of government, academia and corporate sector together with experts from diversified stakeholders including civil society organizations. The supporting organizations include Friedrich Naumann Stiftung für die Freiheit, Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), National Democratic Foundation, Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan, Pak Women, Health and Rural Development Services Foundation, Sustainable Development Foundation, Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies and Inter University Consortium for the Promotion of Social Sciences Arts and Humanities (IUCPSS), while the Founder partners include IWATCH, SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), Engro Foundation, Government College University Faisalabad, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Institute of Geographical Information Systems (IGIS), NUST, Punjab Forestry Research Institute, Faisalabad. ---------------     For more information Focal Person: Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal (Mr.) Organization: Sustainable Development Centre 91-A, Street 18, F-11/2, Islamabad – Pakistan Tel – +92 51 8359934 Cell: +92 300 9740966 Email: ma...@sdc.org.pk & kan...@sdc.org.pk

 

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