All environmental threats are antropogenic and that they can be solved by humans themselves.

The environmental field has experienced a major transition in the past 20 years. Climatic changes are actually happening and Earth is heating up, the glaciers melting and water is being consumed by the growing population. The changing climate leads to changes in the frequency and timing of extreme weather and climate events, and can result in unprecedented extreme weather and climate events.

Erik Solheim is the Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) since May 13, 2016. He has an extensive career focusing on environment and development in government and international organisations.

In his first interview with The News on Sunday, Erik seemed hopeful to work with current government and further the conservation agenda in Pakistan. Regarding the environmental issues that Pakistan is grappling with, Erik Solheim stood clear that all these environmental threats are man-made and that they can be solved by humans themselves. 

 Pakistan is among the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change even though its emissions are less than one per cent in the global carbon trajectory.  What Pakistan needs, just like other nations, is a package of diverse measures. For example, the challenges that will be faced in the Northern Areas are not the same as those in Sindh or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Still, there are general principles: Pakistan can build-in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies into its development. That can apply to schools, hospitals, infrastructure and urban planning, for example. There also needs to be a focus on agriculture — for example how resilient is agriculture to fluctuations in water availability. There is also potential for reforestation work and action against deforestation, which will protect future generations and give them the benefits of the ecosystem-based services provided.

In addition, we need Pakistan’s voice on the global stage. It needs to be a champion of positive climate action. As you rightly say, Pakistan is paying the price for the carbon emissions of others. That’s an injustice that needs to be righted.

World Bank’s study reveals that 800 million people in South Asia currently live in areas that are projected to become moderate to severe hot spots by 2050, which includes Pakistan as well. We need to cut emissions. We need to secure water sources and manage them carefully. We need to plant more trees and protect existing forests. We also have to look at urbanization and how we manage to cool buildings — for example there are district cooling solutions that are far more efficient than individual AC units.

Pakistan is a country of over 200 million people. In remote areas where there is little to no electricity, forest wood is secured to meet energy requirements. The provincial government of Punjab has introduced commercial forestry in the wake of South Punjab Forest Company to encourage private investors to invest in forestry, so that wood-based requirements can be met.  Protecting our planet and our environment does not mean sacrifice. It means opportunity. Everybody has a voice and a role to play, from the smallest gestures to the biggest decisions. It is simply a case of making the decision to do the right thing!