ISLAMABAD: Representing alumni of different US government exchange programs, climate experts, activists, and government leaders have called for climate change solutions and offered individual promises to tackle global climate problems ahead of COP28.
They expressed these views in an event organized by the US Government, the Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN), in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan and the US Educational Foundation in Pakistan in a two-day national seminar on “The Climate Change Emergency: Pakistan in the 21st Century and the Road to COP-28”.
Donald Blome, the US Ambassador to Pakistan, said that PUAN represents the diversity of thought and experience. It represented government, academia, artists, educators, journalists, scientists, activists, and much more.
Pakistan-US “Green Alliance” Framework
The Pakistan-US “Green Alliance” framework is a transformative program between the US and Pakistan to address the most pressing environmental challenges, particularly around climate-smart agriculture, water management, and renewable energy.
Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General of WWF-Pakistan, said that WWF-Pakistan was proud to collaborate with PUAN and the US Mission in Pakistan to organize this much-required national seminar which serves as a unique platform for action-oriented dialogue and engagement among important stakeholders to address the devastating impacts of climate change on Pakistan.
He said that, hopefully, the ideas discussed in the conference would convert into policies and legislation very soon, which would create a positive impact on the environment and communities in the country.
Conference participants emphasized the urgency and need for financing and innovation in the climate change space.
The conference included interactive working group discussions with panelists and experts, presenting national and regional climate solutions. With the support of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), participants also engaged in an outdoor activity at Trail V of the Margalla Hills National Park, which focused on environmental rehabilitation and conservation.
The conference also provided a platform for local start-ups and organizations to exhibit their work in dealing with climate change problems in the country.
The seminar was funded by the US Mission in Pakistan as a main PUAN event and part of the Pakistan-US ‘Green Alliance’ initiative.
The US government invests more than 40 million dollars annually in exchange programs for Pakistani nationals to visit and study in the US.
Over 1,000 Pakistanis participate each year in high school, undergraduate, graduate, and professional US-sponsored exchanges.
