ISLAMABAD - Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said that Global Climate Summit COP26 acknowledged Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Green Vision to tackle the climate change challenge.

Addressing a press conference on Pakistan’s participation in UN-led Global Climate Summit (COP26), the SAPM said that Prime Minister’s projects of Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Plantation and clean energy were globally acknowledged.

He said that Pakistan has less than 1% pollution emissions, but it gave 10-year vision to the world leaders in the summit to reduce the emissions, adding that Pakistan has already reduced the pollution emission to 09% and till 2030 it will be 15%.

During the summit Pakistan also made a methane gas reduction pledge with the US and a Joint Working Group was formed in which Pakistan will play a significant role to reduce methane gas emission up to 30%.

Malik Amin Aslam said India had a non-serious role in the global summit and played a spoiled child role in COP26.

He said India instead of phasing out the coal energy project was stressed for phasing down which raised questions on its credibility and seriousness in tackling the climate challenges. The SAPM said that India is producing 70% electricity with coal which is also polluting air quality in Pakistan.

He said that Pakistan was awarded with Forestry Champion by the UN and Nature Leader award by UK in the summit.

He said Pakistan was elected as Vice President of the next COP meeting and will chair G77+ China Group meeting on climate next year.

The SAPM said that Pakistan also inked agreements with Germany worth 150 million Euros and with UK 50 million pounds for climate change resistance and nature base assistance.

About electric vehicles, he said that technology will reduce the pollution in the country and its running cost will be 12 times less cost effective. He said that the world is fast heading towards climate breakdown, if the global community fails to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C as agreed under the Paris Climate Pact.

“Achieving the Paris climate goal of limiting warming since pre-industrial times to 1.5°C by the end of the century is not possible as long as the carbon-cutting pledges by the countries through adoption of renewable energy sources for fuelling the economies and sustainable production and consumption patterns are not implemented effectively,” he said.

Malik Amin Aslam said, “We also informed the global climate summit participants that by 2030 Pakistan aims to shift to 60% renewable energy and 30% electric vehicles and completely ban imported coal.

“The global leaders at the conference were also told that Pakistan is already implementing nature-based solutions with our Recharge Pakistan, Protected Areas Initiative and 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Programme to mitigate climate vulnerability while mobilising its own financial resources,” he added.

“We saw huge interest of the global participants of the summit in the country’s green programmes and projects, particularly the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme, E-vehicle, renewable energy projects, Recharge Pakistan Programme, Protected Areas Initiative, Green Bonds and Green Stimulus showcased at the Pakistan Pavilion,” Malik Amin said.