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This is so important because the climate crisis is brushed aside with comments like "Pakistan is a low GHG emitter", "were planting trees". These things may be true but distract from the rising calamities of the present and future climate crisis. https://twitter.com/imran2u/status/1281497123561836544
Fact is that the UNFCCC and Paris Agreements have been failures. We're hurtling towards civilizational collapse but can only sing platitudes of "but Pakistan is a signatory to the Paris Agreement".
Denial is a river in Egypt; it's not a plan.
Denial is a river in Egypt; it's not a plan.
We are a water stressed country and will certainly feel the impact of a looming water crisis, but as temperatures fall people perish because cities are too hot to live in and so many people don't have electricity or air conditioners. Then it's winter and the deadly smog season.
"But Pakistan needs to develop it's economy before it can focus on things like environment and climate change"
NOT TRUE
Developed countries didn't decide to go green because they were rich enough; they went green because citizens refused to allow a small number of industrialists
NOT TRUE
Developed countries didn't decide to go green because they were rich enough; they went green because citizens refused to allow a small number of industrialists
To make profits at the expense of public health. A clean environment and climate concerns aren't destinations we magically arrive at on the path to development. They have to be fought for.
"So what should Pakistan do, then!?"
Well begin by not sticking it's head in the sand. We've got to prepare. This means preparing infrastructure and making investments in adaptation. That will cost lots of $$$. So best stop mucking about with these fantasies of defeating India.
Well begin by not sticking it's head in the sand. We've got to prepare. This means preparing infrastructure and making investments in adaptation. That will cost lots of $$$. So best stop mucking about with these fantasies of defeating India.
A hugely bloated civil service and it's attendant pension payment costs. Stop the subsidies to the commodity exporters. Lots of examples.
But it's not just adaption. We've got to get our act in gear as well. We're custodians of the HKH glaciers and of several delicate ecosystems
But it's not just adaption. We've got to get our act in gear as well. We're custodians of the HKH glaciers and of several delicate ecosystems
It can't and won't do anymore to double down of fossil fuels when energy costs are rapidly changing.
"Oh what about baseload"
Sir down and be quiet.
This is an extinction event challenge we're talking about. Which would you prefer: mass starvation's due to food and water shortages; global governance meltdown; or solutions that leverage decentralized/off grid energy?
Sir down and be quiet.
This is an extinction event challenge we're talking about. Which would you prefer: mass starvation's due to food and water shortages; global governance meltdown; or solutions that leverage decentralized/off grid energy?
For context, the difference between 1.5-2C warming is approx 150 million deaths (largely in Asian & African cities due to fossil fuel energy); at 3C agriculture as we know it will become impossible. Ecosystems can't adapt fast enough.
