ISLAMABAD - The Ministry of Climate Change had written a letter to the chief secretaries of all provinces at least a month ago for implantation of the National Climate Change Policy 2012 but it seemed as the climate change was not a priority for the province because the ministry did not get the positive response so far, showed the document available with The Nation.
The documents revealed that on the direction of Minster of Climate Change Mashahidullah Khan, the secretary wrote a letter to all chief secretaries, including AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan last month and requested the provinces for quick response.  
The letter termed Pakistan as one of the most vulnerable countries in the world regarding frequency of disasters. This is important to note that Pakistan is among the worst effected countries to the climate change as environmental degradation is responsible for 6 per cent loss of GDP annually. According to Global Climate Risk Index 2014 report, Pakistan was among the countries most affected by climate change in 2012 and accordingly placed it at third position.
Latter addressed to the chief secretaries reads, “As you are aware the approved National Climate Change Policy provided a framework for addressing the issue that Pakistan faces or would face in the future due to changing climate.” “In view of Pakistan’s high vulnerability to the adverse impact of climate change, in particular extreme events, adaption efforts are the focus of this policy document. The vulnerabilities of various sectors to climate change have been highlighted and appropriate adaption measures spelled out. These cover policy measures to address issues in various sectors such as water, agriculture, forestry, coastal areas, biodiversity, and other vulnerable ecosystem. Notwithstanding the fact that Pakistan’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emission is very small, its role as a responsible contribution to global community in combating climate change has been highlighted by giving due importance to mitigation efforts in sectors such as water, energy, forestry, agriculture and livestock,” it added.
It was mentioned in letter that in regard to the policy measures in the Climate Change Policy, NSDS and Climate Change implantation framework, a National Action Plan had summarised for review and implementation.  
The federal secretary also said in the letter that a meeting would be arranged soon to determine a comprehensive way forward and monitor implantation status. But, so far not even a single province had shown interest in such a meeting.
APP adds: The Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change, Arif Ahmed Khan has reaffirmed that Pakistan stands firm in its commitments made under all international obligations and agreements.
He said that all out measures in collaboration with the governmental and non-governmental sectors concerned will be taken to reduce Pakistan’s vulnerability to the negative impacts of climate change.   
To present Pakistan’s case of vulnerability to these negative impacts of  climate change in upcoming 21st global Conference of Parties (COP21) being held in Paris in December this year, Pakistan has started to hammer out a country position, said a press release issued here on Thursday. In this regard a meeting was held here on Thursday at Ministry of Climate Change in which the Secretary told the participants of government,non-governmental sectors that underscored the need to approach this important event nationally with intense preparation of the “Country Position”, documents on the various issues will be under discussion at the COP21, which will be organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The COP21 will be attended by over 198 countries including Pakistan.
Arif Khan expects that the up-coming 21st Conference of Parties COP21 will bring a positive and balanced way forward for the globe as a whole.
Arif Ahmad Khan directed the Ministry officials to get into details and work out clarity of intended and pledged cooperation from the participants.
He said the Conference will be a defining event for the entire globe adding that the commitments and decisions of this event will have global implications for every country including Pakistan.