ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is just contributing for less than 1% of the world’s planet-warming gases, yet it, according to the Global Climate Risk Index, is the eighth most vulnerable nation to the climate crisis.
It is paying a hefty price by not only experiencing unpredictable rains, floods, and changes in weather patterns but also losses and destruction of schools, homes, and bridges.
During the 2022 flood season, over 10% of Pakistan’s territory was flooded. Over 1700 people were died, more than 2 million people were forced to leave homes and approximately 2000 health facilities were destroyed. The combined damages and economic losses incurred by the floods amounted to over US$30 billion.
In an effort to counter climate change impacts and achieve net-zero carbon emissions, the federal government has decided to increase the budget of the Ministry of Climate Change by Rs11.82 billion to shield Pakistan from the adverse impacts of climate change.
This significant increase in funding highlights the country’s dedication to environmental sustainability, with a specific emphasis on the ongoing Green Pakistan program, previously known as the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami.
In the forthcoming budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, the development budget of the Ministry of Climate Change will surge from Rs4 billion to Rs15.87 billion. This boost is intended to reinforce efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change through various initiatives.
Initiated in 2018, the Green Pakistan program is an advancement of the earlier Ten Billion Tree Tsunami project, aiming to plant trees nationwide and substantially enhance forest cover. The overall cost of the Green Pakistan project is estimated to exceed Rs125 billion, with an anticipated expenditure of Rs29.56 billion by June 30. For the next financial year, expenditures on the project are projected to surpass Rs45 billion.
Aside from the Green Pakistan program, the new budget will also finance four other projects under the Ministry of Climate Change. Notably, Rs100 million has been earmarked to augment the ministry’s capacity to efficiently manage and execute these initiatives.
The Green Pakistan program, along with its predecessor, the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami, has been pivotal in the country’s environmental strategy. These endeavors seek to combat deforestation, foster biodiversity, and alleviate the impacts of climate change by enriching the nation’s green cover.
