ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) Pakistan organised a workshop titled ‘Mainstreaming Climate Change in Punjab’s Growth Strategy and SDG Plans’ at a local hotel on Thursday.
The event was attended by high ranking government officials, development practitioners, media professionals and general public.
Arif Rahman, Coordinator Vulnerability Resilience, Climate Change, LEAD Pakistan, gave an overview of LEAD Pakistan and highlighted its tradition of capacity building as well as its competence areas of research and the objectives of current capacity building workshop.
LEAD Pakistan CEO and Climate and Development Knowledge Network Asia Director Ali Tauqeer Sheikh emphasised that ‘Understanding Climate Change Complexities and its possible effects through scientific jargon can be a daunting task.
The author of National Climate Change Policy 2012 and former Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) DG Dr Qamaruz Zaman Chaudhry gave an overview of the climate change policy and framework for implementation.
He said climate-related extremes are on the rise, while hazard intensity and frequency is increasing, which is linked to climate variability and change.
A panel discussion moderated by Hasan Akhtar Rizvi, Chief Knowledge Officer, LEAD Pakistan, focused on the Punjab Growth Strategy, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate change was discussed. There was also group work on five areas of the provincial climate change policy i.e. water and irrigation; food security, energy, disaster and gender.
Moreover group work on SDGs and Punjab’s growth strategy was moderated by ArifRahman and every group of experts came up with recommendations to be submitted through presentations.
Arif Rahman, Coordinator Climate Change Programme, LEAD Pakistan, delivered a lecture on Assessing Climate Change Vulnerabilities, whereas Nadeem Ahmad, Policy Analyst, LEAD Pakistan, elaborated on SDG Reporting Mechanisms.
The workshop was an endeavour to ensure an all-inclusive process of developing the Punjab Climate Change Policy.
The event informed the participants of the latest conversations, debates and opportunities that exist within the realm of climate change.
