Leadership of youth in addressing climate, environmental challenges of utmost importance," says PPP senator
Sunday, November 05, 2023
Rehman emphasizes individual responsibility towards climate change.
The PPP leader believes that "simple measures can make a huge difference".
Young people should be advocating for action to mitigate climate change, he says.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator and former Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman Sunday emphasized that the country's youth have the potential to play a key role in bringing about transformative changes for a sustainable future.
"Engagement and leadership of youth in addressing climate and environmental challenges is of utmost importance," the PPP leader said while delivering the keynote address at the 'COP in my city 2023' event organized by Youth for Climate Pakistan in association with UN Women. UNICEF and UNDP.
Pakistan is among the most vulnerable countries facing the catastrophic effects of climate change. With deadly floods in 2022 and heat waves prevalent, the country was classified as "highly" vulnerable to the effects of climate change by the Economist Intelligence Unit in early July.
"Youth have great potential to instigate the necessary changes that will shift the trajectory towards a sustainable future," Rehman said.
On the issue of smog in Punjab, especially in Lahore, the former climate minister said that smog is a problem that can be tackled at the local level and is largely under the control of the community.
"According to reports, there are 500 people in hospitals in Lahore due to preventable smog," she said.
Her remarks come as the country's largest province has witnessed dangerously high levels of smog and air pollution from car fumes, factories and crop burning in recent days, with the Lahore High Court ordering the government to impose a "smog emergency" in the country. the provincial capital.
The PPP leader emphasized the need for people to take responsibility in both community and individual capacities to tackle climate change, stressing that "simple measures and actions can make a huge difference".
Commenting on the importance of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 28) in 2023, Rehman said: "The world should remember that one of the goals of COP28 is to leave no one behind. However, women, children, vulnerable groups and many others are still being left behind by the world .At COP28, young people should advocate for adaptation as a critical aspect of climate change mitigation.”
Despite the heavy blow to the economy due to climate change-related disasters, Pakistan received the lowest climate finance of just 5% in the last decade, as revealed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) independent assessment report on climate change 2011 to 2020.
The report was based on a ranking carried out over the past decade, with the Maldives coming out on top by receiving 39% of the total funds available. Meanwhile, India has secured 20% of climate finance, The News reported last month.
Senator "concerned" about the situation in Gaza
The PPP senator also expressed her "deep concern" over the humanitarian crisis that has unfolded in the besieged Gaza Strip due to almost a month of relentless Israeli bombardment.
“As we speak, children in Gaza are facing the brunt of a completely unfair and unjust war,” Rehman said, adding: “I appreciate that everyone is calling it what it is: a cemetery, a cemetery for the children of Palestine. our solidarity with them."
Nearly 10,000 Palestinians have been martyred in the conflict, which began when Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,400 people and the kidnapping of more than 240 others.
According to Ashraf Al-Kudra, a spokesman for the Gaza Strip Ministry of Health, the Palestinian death toll has exceeded 9,770 — some 4,800 of whom are children.
Meanwhile, the evacuation of wounded Palestinians to Egypt via the Rafah crossing has been suspended since Saturday following an Israeli attack on an ambulance on Friday, Reuters sources said.
